Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. in coin-tossing, the ‘odd man’ who goes out.

[c.1863		🎵 ‘Heads or Tails are Sure to Win, Tommy Dodd, Tommy Dodd’].
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. 259: Tommy Dodd in tossing when the odd man goes out. A phrase in frequent use at the London Music Halls. Origin not known.
1868		Oxford Jrnl 12 Dec. 6/6: Although you two may both go out, / I’ll not be ‘Tommy Dodd’.
1882		Tuapeka Times (Otago) 16 Sept. 4: Heads or tails, I’m bound to win, Tommy Dodd, Tommy Dodd / Hurrah! for Tommy Dodd.
1882		Sydney Sl. Dict. (2 edn) 11: Tommy Dodd - In tossing, odd man either wins or loses, as per agreement. London phrase.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1936		Advertiser (Adelaide) 6 June 23/3: ‘So I’m Tommy Dodd and Oddsman-out,’ observed Neuson coolly, bending over Pepper and searching his pockets.

2. (also timmy dodd) the game of coin-tossing itself; thus go/play at Tommy Dodd, Tommy Dod, to play at coin-tossing.

1868		Sportsman 13 Aug. 2/1: Notes on News [...] A game of legal ‘Tommy Dodd’ or ‘odd man out’ when gaol may result less of a prisoner’s guilt than of matter of chance.
1869		Man about Town 18 Sept. 13/3: I’ll go that pusson — Tommy Dodd — / Four four of old Jamaiky.
1869		Man about Town 11 Dec. 107/1: No more shall honest men be sent to quod, / But only those who play at Tommy Dodd.
1871		Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.) 7 Oct. 2/5: A certain ex-member of Parliament, with a gentleman holding Her Majesty’s commission of the peace, and a capitalist meeting, were indulging themselves in ‘Tommy Dodd’ for sovereigns.
1873		S. Aus., Advertiser (Adelaide) 29 Apr. 3/4: The game is called ‘Tommy Dodd’ - throwing dice, half the stakes going to the host, who does better in that way than in selling nobbler.
1876		Edinburgh Eve. News 3 Mar. 4/5: It was the custom in public houses when a party wished to treat another to go ‘Tommy Dodd’ to see which should pay.
1882		Bristol Magpie 27 July 6/2: The agreement [...] was, that after ‘Tommy Dod-’ing, who should have choice of side and first ‘go’, they were to take up positions.
1882		Bristol Magpie 10 Aug.5/1: [I]t is very proper for them [...] to frown [...] at the urchins brought before them for indulging in the seductive game of ‘pitch and toss,’ [but they] understand the mysteries of ‘Tommy Dod’ as well as most citizens.
1890		Music Hall & Theatre Rev. 16 Aug. 10/1: [T]hey did me for three drinks. How was that ? Tommy Dodding with a double headed penny.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 87: Tommy Dodd, a game in tossing where the odd man wins and loses.
1895		Sheffield Eve. Teleg. 1 Jan. 2/7: The prosecutor [who] did a little betting [...] accompanied him to the South-Western Hotel [and] played at ‘Timmy Dodd’.
1899		Wright & Eplett [perf. Gus Elen] ‘’e don’t know where ’e are’ 🎵 When 'e's up at Covent Garden / You can see ’im standin’ all alone / Won’t join in a quiet Tommy Dodd.
1909		Dungog Chron. (NSW) 13 Aug. 5/3: Meggs suggested that they should ‘Tommy Dodd’ or toss for the railway fares.

3. the winner or loser in coin-tossing, the choice for the name allotted by previous agreement.

1867		Sportsman 14 Mar. 2/1: Notes on News [...] Would not ‘The Tommy Dodds, or Odd Men Out Club’ be a better title?
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

4. (Aus.) a damaged or worn coin (usu. silver) that no longer serves as legal currency.

1870		Newcastle Chron. (NSW) 23 Apr. 3/1: Just at present there is a great deal of defaced coin in Maitland. It is genuine enough but banks and tradespeople show great reluctance to accept it [...] This kind of money has been named here ‘Tommy Dodd’ [...] It is difficult to account for so quaint a name [...] with regard to silver coinage.
1870		Brisbane Courier (Qld) 2 Dec. 2/7: Now, if everybody would make a practice of only giving ‘Tommy Dodds’ at these [church] collections, [...] [t]he worn and doefaced silver coinage would soon be withdrawn from circulation.
1882		Tasmanian (Launceston, Tas.) 1 July 11/1: Tommy Dodd' sovereigns in circulation in Victoria and in New South Wales. Bite ’em — ’tis a sovereign test.
1896		Truth (Sydney) 10 May 3/2: I once gave three sixpences in change for a shilling myself, the fact that two of them were ‘Tommy Dodds’ having no bearing on the case whatever.
1909		Dubbo Dispatch (NSW) 3 July 3/5: Bankers [...] don't buy more silver coin than they can help and they are not nearly so careful as they might be to retire the ‘Tommy Dodds’ which have been worn smooth.

5. (Aus.) in pl., the odds.

1913

Truth (Sydney) 30 Mar. 11/5: Sir I may tell you, / Talking on those werry odds / Of the story of a Duchess / Took down on the Tommy Dodds.