sod

¹

[ sod ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, sod·ded, sod·ding.

1. to cover with sods or sod.

sod

²

[ sod ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. simple past tense of seethe.

sod

³

[ sod ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, Chiefly British Slang: Vulgar.

, sod·ded, sod·ding.

1. to damn:

   Sod the bloody bastard!

verb phrase

1. to leave (usually as an imperative):

   Why don't you just sod off!

sod

¹

/ sɒd /

noun

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

verb

1. tr to cover with sods

sod

²

/ 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. sod all slang.
   nothing

interjection

1. sod it
   a strong exclamation of annoyance

Derived Forms

• ˈsodding, adjective

Other Words From

• sodless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sod¹

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

Origin of sod²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sod¹

C15: from Low German; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch sode; related to Old Frisian sātha

Origin of sod²

C19: shortened from sodomite

Example Sentences

I’ve put roofs on, made fences, laid sod, swept the floors—just about everything you can think of.

From MIT Technology Review

You can rent a machine called a sod cutter or dig it up with a shovel.

From Popular-Science

Similarly, fresh sod also needs soil preparation and may not make it through the summer, but it will look good for a few weeks, at least.

From Washington Post

The fishiest places we found were along the sod banks to the east of the inlet, where the current had cut nice underhangs along the banks.

From Popular-Science

The poor sod is undertaking a 24 hour drive to meet up with the teams.

From The Daily Beast

“For some reason I thought, Oh, sod it, I will sign up,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

They painted his house, maintained his yard, replaced the sod, installed artificial turf, and planted and moved shrubbery.

From The Daily Beast

The dooryard was covered with a heavy sod and the ancient flower beds had run wild with weeds.

From Project Gutenberg

She covered her face with her hands and sank down on the wet sod, while the rain beat upon her unmercifully.

From Project Gutenberg

And as he did so, he regarded the spot where the sod house had once stood and wherein he had spent many happy days.

From Project Gutenberg

We slipped on the wet sod, we fell together sprawling on the rocks.

From Project Gutenberg

His front foot dug in the sod, his eyes were red, and between his grumbles his breath came in puffs and snorts of anger.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dirt
• turf