codds
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The "poor brethren" of the Charter House. In The Newcomes, Thackeray writes, "The Cistercian lads call these old gentlemen CODDS; I know not wherefore." A probable abbreviation of CODGER.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “codds” mean?
The "poor brethren" of the Charter House. In The Newcomes, Thackeray writes, "The Cistercian lads call these old gentlemen CODDS; I know not wherefore." A probable abbreviation of CODGER.
Is “codds” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.