codger
English edit
Alternative forms edit
- coger (obsolete)
Etymology edit
Possibly derived from cadger (“hawker”).[1] Or abbreviation of coffin dodger, but this is likely to be a folk etymology.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒdʒə/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɑd͡ʒɚ/
- Rhymes: -ɒdʒə(ɹ)
Noun edit
codger (plural codgers)
- (informal) An amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:old man
- 1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 418:
- Now I was a forsaken codger snuffling disgracefully from a beautiful floozy's abuse.
- 1839, Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby:
- ‘I haven’t been drinking your health, my codger,’ replied Mr. Squeers; ‘so you have nothing to do with that.’
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
an amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man
References edit
- ^ Michael Quinion (1996–2024) “Cadge”, in World Wide Words.