Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. and usu. Scot.) used as a mild oath (cf. jinks n.; jingo! excl.).

1786		Burns ‘Halloween’ in Poetical Works (1871) 55: While Willie lap, and swoor by jing / ’Twas just the way he wanted.
1809		Horry & Weems Life of General F. Marion (1816) 124: By jing! I should like it proper well!
1821–6		‘Bill Truck’ Man o’ War’s Man (1843) 41: By jing! sweet gall! a happy thought / Has just popped in my nob.
1833		S. Smith Major Downing (1834) 48: By Jing! I never felt so before in all my born days.
1845		J.J. Hooper Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs (1851) 156: By jings, I felt it that time.
1851		Manchester Spy (NH) 31 May n.p.: ‘By jings,’ says Jonathan, ‘is he!’.
1871		C.G. Leland ‘Breitmann at a Picnic’ in Hans Breitmann in Europe 283: Now how vouldt you hafe feeled, py shing! / If dat man hat peen in de whiskey ring?
1876		‘Mark Twain’ Tom Sawyer 49: By jings, don’t you wish you was Jeff?
1878		J.H. Nicholson ‘Bunkum in Parvo’ in Opal Fever 97: I’ll tell you, Mate, — by jing / I’d rather load about and sing.
1884		(con. c.1840) ‘Mark Twain’ Huckleberry Finn 164: And, by jings, he begins to cry.
1896		Ade Artie (1963) 85: They’d laugh and slap their legs and say, ‘By Jing!’.
1897		‘Mark Twain’ Tom Sawyer, Detective 96: By jings, I was sure I seen Tom give a kind of a faint little start.
1901		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ In Bad Company 38: By Jing! I believe it’s Greenwell.
1902		C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 107: By jing, it’s been three years since I’ve seen you.
1914		Day Book (Chicago) 28 Mar. 20/1: By jing! it’s that flying machine.
1923		Burlington Free Press (VT) 21 Feb. 12/5: ‘By Jing!’ [...] justice often slips a gear and killers, if of tender age [...] go forth to elevate the stage.
1932		M. Marshall Travels of Tramp-Royal 46: And the bawbees molding in his stocking-fit. Jings, ay!
1933		N. Lindsay Saturdee 167: By jings, I was the one.
1949		L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 10: Jings, Fred [...] What’s up?
1959		(con. 1940s) ‘David Forrest’ Last Blue Sea 121: Jings! I can’t help it.
1974		G.M. Fraser McAuslan in the Rough 30: Jings! [...] mebbe it’s a treasure!
1977		in K. Gilbert Living Black 287: Jingy, that looks different.
1993		Aus. Word Map 🌐 jings. A remark or whinge of derision when one is told one cannot have what one wants (ie, go to the pictures, swimming, have money etc.): Jings!
1998		P. Doyle (con. late 1950s) Amaze Your Friends (2019) 217: ‘Jingies, you’re a clever bloke’.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 110: Jings! What a day this was turning out to be.
2004		Guardian G2 21 Sept. 27: Jings!