To codge?

[Joel S. Berson]

Apparently uncommon in print.  Sampling Google Books for "codge/ed/es/ing":

Cassell's dictionary of Slang has "codge up", v. [19C] to repair,
usu. badly or clumsily ... [Yorks. dial. codge, to patch up, to mend
badly ...]  (So "codge together" in my oral, 2010 example.  Does
Cameron come from Yorkshire or Leicestershire?)

Starting with the remotest, _Leicetershire words, phrases, and
proverbs, 1848, has "codge", to do a thing clumsily.

Nothing else before 1850 (except in German, French, or
Latin).  Except 2 instances of "codging" as an adjective, in "a
codging Milner", 1843, Parliamentary Papers; and "replied the
codging, smiling lad of the hand-towel", 1843, _The Man-o-War's
Man.  [Not verified.]  Neither seems related to "cobbling something together".

Later than 1850, I find only the following:

In 1851, "codging" ("and who was ' in the codging (patching) way.'";
"If there must be lying and codging and false pretences").

In 1866, "codge" ("hoo con codge up a pack o lies better than
anybuddy ut aw know")

Joel

At 5/11/2010 12:46 PM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>A British Liberal Democratic politician (perhaps its current leader),
>talking about why he wanted to take time to discuss the question of
>forming a coalition government, said (BBC radio news, heard in
>Boston):  "If you codge these things together ...".  Presumably here
>having the same meaning as "cobble", "2. To put together or join
>roughly or clumsily" -- that is, don't be hasty in repairing the situation.
>
>I don't see "codge" in the OED.  There are about 188 Google hits for
>"codge together", some not appearing to have the connotation of
>"roughly, in haste", but merely "collecting, gathering from
>miscellaneous handy bits."
>
>Joel
>
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