Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to cheat, to defraud.

1909

(ref. to 18C) in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

2. (also codd) to tease, to hoax.

1859		C. Abbey diary 29 July in Gosnell Before the Mast (1989) 204: We have two green hands, boys, who [...] are regularly conned, quizzed, & ‘codded’.
1865		Eve. Citizen 28 Nov. n.p.: Codding a town Council. [...] The Rev. [...] preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon to the Council from these words in the 10th chapter of St. Matthew: – ‘Ye are of more value than many sparrows’ [F&H].
1879		Cincinnati Enquirer 7 Sept. 10/7: Kidding, Codding, Guying – Making fun of; telling in all seriousness what is intended for sarcasm; praising when the opposite is meant.
1885		The Stage 21 Aug. in Ware (1909) 82/2: ‘Cod’ is peculiar as a word signifying ironical chaff, and perhaps it has not much to recommend itself beyond its brevity.
1896		W.C. Gore Student Sl. in Cohen (1997) 5: cod v. To deceive; to tell preposterous stories to.
1899		Crissie 99: ‘What a pert little minx it is! Trying to cod me, eh?’.
1900		Truth (Sydney) 9 Dec. 7/3: Tbem old bar ‘maids,’ as they calls ’em, / Cods the young ’uns on to write / For to fetch some fresh ones over.
1905		Marvel III:56 29: Do you cod yourself you’re a highwayman or what – eh?
1910		B.L. Bowen ‘Word-List From Western New York’ in DN III:vi 439: codd, v. To deceive; to dupe. ‘Oh, you can’t cod me.’.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 308: Who tried the case? says Joe. – Recorder, says Ned. – Poor old sir Frederick, says Alf, you can cod him up to the two eyes.
1925		S. O’Casey Shadow of a Gunman Act I: Oh, now, you’re on for coddin’ me, Mr. Davoren.
1939		‘Flann O’Brien’ At Swim-Two-Birds 109: Oh by Gorrah you can’t cod me.
1943		‘Myles na gCopaleen’ Faustus Kelly in ‘Flann O’Brien’ Stories & Plays (1973) 122: Yerrah, now, you’re coddin’ me surely. You’re trying to take a rise out of me.
1955		J.P. Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 180: You’re just trying to cod me.
1965		(con. 1940s) B. Behan Confessions 85: The Jewish girl searched every inch of our faces to be sure we weren’t codding her.
1971		T. Murphy Morning After Optimism in Plays: 3 (1994) Scene v: You’re codding me now?
1989		H. Leonard Out After Dark 2: Cloggy said: ‘You’re coddin’.’.
1991		R. Doyle Van (1998) 619: Wipe your feet, said Jimmy Sr. – Only coddin’ yeh.
2000		F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 27: Get away. You’re codding me right?
2017		L. McInerney Blood Miracles 93: ‘You better be codding me.’ ‘I’m not codding you,’ says Ryan.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 241: ‘Sure I’m only codding you’.