Codds

the “poor brethren” of the Charter House. In The New comes , Thackeray writes, “The Cistercian lads call these old gentlemen CODDS ; I know not wherefore.” A probable abbreviation of CODGER . Codger , or COGER , an old man; “a rum old CODGER ,” a curious old fellow. Codger is sometimes used as synonymous with CADGER , and then signifies a person who gets his living in a questionable manner. “ Cogers ,” the name of a debating society, formerly held in Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, and still in existence. The term is probably a corruption of COGITATORS .