hoddy-dod

English

Etymology

Compare dodman.

Noun

hoddy-dod (plural hoddy-dods)

1. (obsolete, England, East Anglia) A snail.
   • 1889, Amy Walton, White Lilac; or The Queen of May:

     “You’ve brought yer house on yer back like a hoddy-dod,” she said with a grin.

2. (obsolete) A fool.
   • 1982 [1882], Henry Arthur Jones, “The Silver King”, in Plays by Henry Arthur Jones‎^[1], act IV, scene 3:

     CRIPPS: What’s your confounded name, you thick-headed hoddy-dod? (shouting)

Related terms

• dodman
• hodmandod
• hoddydoddy

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.