E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bloody,
used as an expletive in such phrases as “A bloody fool,” “Bloody drunk,” etc., arose from associating folly and drunkenness, etc., with what
are called “Bloods,” or aristocratic rowdies. Similar to “Drunk as a lord.”
1
“It was bloody hot walking to-day.”—Swift: Journal to Stella, letter xxii.
