cod

¹ American  

[kod] / kɒd /

noun

plural

cod,

plural

cods

1. any of several soft-rayed food fishes of the family Gadidae, especially Gadus morhua, of North Atlantic waters.

2. a closely related fish, Gadus macrocephalus, of the North Pacific Ocean.

3. any of several unrelated fishes, as rockfishes of the genus Sebastes.

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cod ² American  

[kod] / kɒd /

noun

1. Slang: Vulgar. testicle.

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COD. ³ American  

Or cod.

abbreviation

1. codex.

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C.O.D. ⁴ American  

Or c.o.d.

abbreviation

Commerce.

1. cash, or collect, on delivery (payment to be made when delivered to the purchaser).

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cod ¹ British  

/ kɒd /

noun

1. any of the gadoid food fishes of the genus Gadus, esp G. morhua (or G. callarias ), which occurs in the North Atlantic and has a long body with three rounded dorsal fins: family Gadidae . They are also a source of cod-liver oil

2. any other fish of the family Gadidae See gadid

3. any of various unrelated Australian fish, such as the Murray cod

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COD ² British  

abbreviation

1. cash on delivery

2. (in the US) collect on delivery

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cod ³ British  

/ kɒd /

noun

1. dialect a pod or husk

2. an obsolete word for scrotum

3. obsolete a bag or envelope

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cod ⁴ British  

/ kɒd /

verb

1. slang to make fun of; tease

2. slang to play a trick on; fool

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noun

1. slang a hoax or trick

2. slang a fraud; hoaxer

   he's an old cod

adjective

1. slang mock; sham

   cod Latin

cod ⁵ British  

/ kɒd /

noun

1. dialect a fellow; chap

   he's a nice old cod

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Cod ⁶ British  

noun

1. See Cape Cod

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COD Cultural  

1. An abbreviation for “cash on delivery” or “collect on delivery.”

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Usage

What does C.O.D. mean? C.O.D. is an abbreviation for cash on delivery, referring to an arrangement in which payment for a purchase is made directly by the purchaser to the person who delivers the item.C.O.D. can also stand for collect on delivery, meaning the same thing. That’s because C.O.D. doesn’t necessarily always mean that actual cash (paper money) is required (though it often used to mean this). Sometimes, a check, money order, or credit card payment will be accepted as C.O.D.C.O.D. can be used as a noun, as in Sorry, we don’t accept C.O.D.s. It can also be used as an adverb, as in We’re shipping it C.O.D.; as an adjective, as in Our C.O.D. orders are behind schedule; and in other variations.Although the term can be spelled without periods, they’re usually included to make it clear that the term is an abbreviation.Example: Most of our shipments are done C.O.D., and we have a high percentage of successful payments.

Etymology

Origin of cod¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; origin uncertain

Origin of cod²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English codd; akin to Old Norse koddi “pillow”

Origin of C.O.D.⁴

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

"Tilapia originates from the Middle East and Africa, it is now extensively farmed, cod and haddock is so expensive now that tilapia seems the obvious choice, very tasty and affordable for everyone," he said.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

The National Federation of Fish Friers says reductions in cod in the Barents Sea have left shortfalls in the supply chain, but hopes consumers will be adventurous and give other fish varieties a try.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

Meanwhile, there has been an increase in the population of cod, which eat shrimp.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

You’ll find it at Portugalia Marketplace, a haven for Portuguese specialty goods ranging from tinned fish to salt cod, olive oil, and cured meats.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

They’d brought slabs of hard salt beef, dried cod, dried beans, turnips, carrots, sacks of barley meal and wheaten flour, pickled eggs, barrels of onions and apples.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin