sod

¹ American  

[sod] / sɒd /

noun

1. a section cut or torn from the surface of grassland, containing the matted roots of grass.

2. the surface of the ground, especially when covered with grass; turf; sward.

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verb (used with object)

sodded, sodding

1. to cover with sods or sod.

sod ² American  

[sod] / sɒd /

verb

Archaic.

1. simple past tense of seethe.

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sod ³ American  

[sod] / sɒd /

noun

Chiefly British Slang: Vulgar.

1. a chap; fellow; guy.

   You almost feel sorry for the poor sod.

2. an inconsequential, annoying, or unpleasant person.

3. Older Use. a gay man.

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verb (used with object)

Chiefly British Slang: Vulgar.

sodded, sodding

1. to damn.

   Sod the bloody bastard!

verb phrase

1. sod off to leave (usually as an imperative).

   Why don't you just sod off!

sod ¹ British  

/ sɒd /

noun

1. a person considered to be obnoxious

2. a jocular word for a person

   the poor sod hasn't been out for weeks

3. slang nothing

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interjection

1. a strong exclamation of annoyance

sod ² British  

/ sɒd /

noun

1. a piece of grass-covered surface soil held together by the roots of the grass; turf

2. poetic the ground

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verb

1. (tr) to cover with sods

Other Word Forms

• sodding adjective
• sodless adjective

Etymology

Origin of sod¹

First recorded in 1475–1525; late Middle English sod(de), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German sode “turf”

Origin of sod³

First recorded in 1810–15; by shortening of sodomite ( def. )

Example Sentences

Michael described himself as a "very awkward, slightly porky, very strange-looking bloke" who walked into his first day of school with a mop of curly hair and wearing "sodding great big window-frame glasses."

From Salon

Is there really anything to be gained from being served yet another reminder every single time we open a sodding email?

From The Guardian

“This path must be laid out like a sodding maze,” said Alice.

From Literature

Despite the rain he jolted around the grounds to direct planting and sodding and every morning at dawn attended Burnham’s mandatory muster of key men.

From Literature

It’s considered a nuisance or a weed when it pops up in luscious suburban lawns, long the bane of gardeners and homeowners sodding, sprinkling and nurturing the greenest of grasses.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dirt
• turf