codger
nounUK /ˈkɒd͡ʒə/ · US, IE /ˈkɑd͡ʒəɹ/
Etymology Possibly derived from cadger (“hawker”). Or abbreviation of coffin dodger, but this is likely to be a folk etymology.
1
Informal An amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man.
- ‘I haven’t been drinking your health, my codger,’ replied Mr. Squeers; ‘so you have nothing to do with that.’1839, Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby:
- Now I was a forsaken codger snuffling disgracefully from a beautiful floozy's abuse.1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 418:
1 more example
- Jed, darling. The old codgers need to talk. Andrew's going to buy you a drink in that beautiful bar up on the terrace.2016, 27:21 from the start, in The Night Manager, season 1, episode 4, spoken by Richard "Dicky" Onslow Roper (Hugh Laurie):
- Derived terms
- codgerhood, codgerly, codgy, old codger