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. )

Explanation

Sod is grass and the layer of soil that's just below it. When you step onto a grassy soccer field, your cleats will sink into the sod. You can also call sod "turf." A green, grassy lawn is covered with sod, and if you plant a yard with brand new sod, you sod it. Experts know that sod comes either from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German root, but beyond that it's a bit of a mystery. Some guesses connect it to sog, from the idea of wet sod saturated with water—or soggy sod.

Example Sentences

Sod is more expensive — about $315 to $340 to cover roughly 100 square feet — but you also get an established lawn in less than half the time, said Sjoquist.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2024

The God of Sod, it should be said, had no role in preparing either field.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2023

George Toma, the God of Sod, has prepared the field for all 57 Super Bowls.

From New York Times • Feb. 12, 2023

Prices at Central Sod, for example, are around 50 cents a square foot for tall fescue, 85 cents for Tahoma 31 bermudagrass and $1.25 for a zoysia variety named Zenith.

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2021

Sod, plowed deep in the fall, rolled early in the spring, well harrowed, the seed sown and harrowed in, and all rolled level, will produce a good crop.

From Soil Culture by Walden, J. H.

Related Words

• dirt
• turf