Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pox! excl.

also pocks! a pox!

a general excl. of annoyance, irritation.

[UK]J. Day Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green Act III: O pox choke him for a slave hither our Country Franklins flockmeale swarme, / and John and Joane come marching arme in arme.
[UK]Dekker Gul’s Horne-Booke 30: Their Poet cries perhaps a pox go with you.
[UK]Jonson Bartholomew Fair II v: Oh, the pox!
[UK]Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry (1632) IV i: Pox! thou hast burnt me.
[UK]G. Peele Merrie Conceited Jests 2: They abuse the fare they carrie with foule speeches, as A pox or the Deuill go with you.
[UK]Etherege Love In A Tub I iii: A pox confound all Ordinaries.
[UK]Wycherley Love in a Wood I i: sir simon: A pox, if a mans understanding be not so publick as theirs, he cannot do a wise action but they go way with the honour of it.
[UK]Fifteen Real Comforts of Matrimony 65: Pox a this thowing good money after bad - by Jove I hate it mortally.
[UK]Congreve Way of the World I ii: Ay, ay; pox, I’m malicious, man!
[UK]R. Estcourt Fair Example III i: Pho! Pox!
[UK]Penkethman’s Jests 7: Ah Pox! this comes o’ your Writing and Reading, you silly Dog.
[UK]‘Whipping-Tom’ Rod for a Proud Lady II 5: Almighty Pox! [...] His Codpiece Passion – did inspire, To set both Body and the Soul on Fire.
[UK]Foote Knights in Works (1799) I 76: Pshaw! pox! prithee, Tim, nobody dresses now.
[UK]‘Peter Pindar’ ‘Peter’s Prophecy’ Works (1794) II 136: Poh! p-x! don’t laugh.