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@SW-User Jeff and James, LAWS! and LAWK(S)! / la! are exclamations meaning ‘Lord!’ that are still in use and have been around since the mid 19th century and mid 18th century respectively. Derived from these exclamations are several mild oaths:
1) LAW SAKES! [mid-19th century until the 1900s], meaning “for the Lord’s sake!”
2) LAWS-A-ME! [late 19th century] (U.S.), meaning “Lord Save Me!”
3) LAWKS-A-MUSSY! / LAWK-A-MERCY! / LAWS-A-MERCY! [late 18th century and still in use], meaning “Lord have mercy!”
(Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang)
1) LAW SAKES! [mid-19th century until the 1900s], meaning “for the Lord’s sake!”
2) LAWS-A-ME! [late 19th century] (U.S.), meaning “Lord Save Me!”
3) LAWKS-A-MUSSY! / LAWK-A-MERCY! / LAWS-A-MERCY! [late 18th century and still in use], meaning “Lord have mercy!”
(Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang)