zoinks

English

WOTD – 25 October 2008

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /zɔɪŋks/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪŋks

Etymology 1

The earliest and most commonly known usage of this term is in the American cartoon Scooby-Doo, where it was used regularly by one of the main characters, Norville "Shaggy" Rogers.

Interjection

zoinks

1. Expressing surprise, fear, etc.

   Synonyms: jeepers, jinkies, yikes, zoiks

   • 1998 March 28, David W Miller, “Re: Slang (was: REVIEW: Vampire Science)”, in rec.arts.drwho‎^[1] (Usenet):

     Oh Zoinks! This really smurfs things up for me! Well, at least I now know why many of my friends might feel my slang isn't as radicool as I do.

   • 2012, Michael W. Messer, Forever Sixteen, page 39:

     After gulping hard, I said aloud, “Zoinks.” I was expecting a big black crow to peck out my eyes, or a woman to hang herself out the second story window.

Etymology 2

Verb

zoinks

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of zoink