codger

American  

[koj-er] / ˈkɒdʒ ər /

noun

1. an eccentric man, especially one who is old.

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codger British  

/ ˈkɒdʒə /

noun

1. informal a man, esp an old or eccentric one: a term of affection or mild derision (often in the phrase old codger )

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Etymology

Origin of codger

1750–60; perhaps variant of obsolete cadger; see cadge ¹

Explanation

A codger is an endearing old guy. Your tiny, eccentric grandfather might be thought of as a codger by his neighbors. You can use codger to talk about a funny old man, especially if you're fond of him. While it's common for codger to be a term of affection, it may be seen as derogatory by the person labeled that way, so it's best to use it cautiously. You might laugh with your siblings about the codger next door, but you should probably do it quietly. The word stems from cadger, which is a now-obsolete word for "beggar."

Example Sentences

When I asked Winston how she and others had made the shirts so quickly, she looked at me like the codger I am:

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2022

Johnson says that you have three options when it comes to adoption: “another old codger, a pair of kittens, or nothing at all.”

From Slate • May 30, 2019

Yet much of the press is acting like he's an old codger and it's just a matter of time before he keels over politically.

From Fox News • Apr. 26, 2019

By the 1930s, the term had changed in Hollywood to refer to entertainers who played specific types: Walter Brennan as the leathery old codger, Ward Bond as the avuncular authority figure.

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2017

Looking at Grandpa, Mama said, “Papa, this is the silliest thing I ever heard of, an old codger like you, going to town to read monkey books.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls