Obs. Also bodkin. [dim. of BODY: see -KIN2, -KIE.]

1

  1.  A diminutive body; a corpuscle, an atom.

2

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. vi. 106. Small Boddikies or indivisible Particles of the Blood … If any reliques of the said Bodikies did remain.

3

1721–1800.  Bailey, Bodykin, a little body. Obs.

4

  2.  (God’s, ods) bodikins! bodkins! (bodlikins!) God’s dear body!: an oath. Cf. BODY, 4.

5

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. iii. 46. Body-kins M. Page. Ibid. (1602), Ham., II. ii. 554. Gods bodykins [Qq. Bodkin] man, better.

6

1733.  Fielding, Quix. in Eng., II. viii. Odsbodlikins … you have a strange sort of a taste.

7

1753.  Smollett, Ct. Fathom (1784), 63/1. As for the matter of dress, bodlikins!

8