dial. and colloq. [perh. a dial. var. of CADGER: the two words are now used quite differently in the colloquial language of London and the towns generally; but in some dialects they are identical, while in others codger had formerly a contemptuous sense which might easily arise out of cadger.]
1. dial. A mean, stingy or miserly (old) fellow; sometimes, like cadger, a pedlar, tramp or beggar.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, IX. iv. (D.). He … said … nothing should induce him ever to help me again. What a mere codger that lad has turned out.
1818. Todd, Codger, contemptuously used for a miser, one who rakes together all he can.
1875. Parish, Sussex Dial., Codger, a miser; a stingy old fellow.
1876. South Warwicksh. Gloss., Codger, a miser.
1877. E. Peacock, N. W. Linc. Gloss., Codger, a dirty, mean old man.
1880. Miss Courtney, W. Cornwall Gloss., Codger, cadger, a tramp; a mean pedlar; a term of contempt.
b. dial. A testy or crusty (old) man.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Codger, a crusty old fellow.
1888. Lowsley, Berksh. Wds., Codger, a testy old man: an old man having queer habits.
2. low colloq. A familiar or jocosely irreverent term applied a. originally to an elderly man, usually with a grotesque or whimsical implication.
1756. Murphy, Apprentice, I. (1764), 16. Old Cojer must not smoke that I have any concern.
1775. Garrick, Bon Ton, 32. My Lord’s servants call you an old out-of-fashion’d Codger. Ibid., 33. That for you, old Codger (snaps his fingers).
1789. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Subj. for Painters, Wks. 1812, II. We want no proofs, old Codger, but your face.
1797–1805. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., III. 267. The queer codger fancies them his new relations.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 89. A gouty old codger of an alderman.
1821. Shelley, Lett. Mrs. S., Aug. (Camelot ed.), 355. I … sign the agreement for the old codger’s house.
1834. M. Scott, Cruise Midge (1863), 2. The old gentleman was rather a quiet-going codger.
1876. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Codger, a stout, comfortable looking old man.
b. In more general application: Fellow, chap.
1839. Dickens, Nich. Nick., lx. ‘I haven’t been drinking your health, my codger,’ replied Mr. Squeers.
1851. D. Jerrold, St. Giles, ii. 14 (Hoppe). And that ’s what they ’ll do with you, my little codger.
1883. Hampsh. Gloss., Codger, a name given when familiarly addressing an acquaintance.
