Lud

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mythical ruler said to have founded London and given his name to Ludgate ; an old-fashioned interjection once used to express surprise, like a shortened form of Lord
2. A semi-mythical British monarch traditionally credited with building the city of London ; a mild, dated exclamation of astonishment derived from a shortened form of Lord
3. An early legendary king associated with the founding of London ; a dated cry of amazement that comes from an old abbreviation of the word Lord

Etymology: In exclamations like "Lud!" and "Lud-a-mercy!", the word is a worn-down form of "Lord." "Lud-a-mercy" is a clipped version of "Lord have mercy," and the shorter forms kept the sense of a pious oath while losing its religious weight. Speakers said it as a mild expression of surprise or dismay, much as people now say "good heavens." The same sound also names a figure from Welsh legend, Lludd, a king said to have ruled Britain and to have been buried in London. The city's Ludgate, one of its old gates, is traditionally linked to him. That is a separate name from the exclamation, though the two are often confused because they sound alike.