Sod
/sɒd/noun
A clump or layer of grass-covered earth; also a crude British slang term for a person.
Did you know?The insult sense of *sod* is tied to British slang and likely spread through the old taboo of calling someone worthless earth, while the turf meaning is the original one.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
sod
“a clod or turf; a piece of ground covered with grass”
Middle English
ME
sod
“a clod of earth, turf”
16th Century
English
sod
“turf or grassy earth”
19th Century
English
sod
“British slang for a contemptible person; also used as an exclamation”
Modern English
English
sod
“a piece of turf; in British usage, a mildly rude term for a person”