codpiece

codpiece
/kod"pees'/, n.
1. (in the 15th and 16th centuries) a flap or cover for the crotch in men's hose or tight-fitting breeches, usually matching the costume and often decorated.
2. Obs. penis.
[1400-50; late ME. See COD2, PIECE]

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      pouchlike addition to men's long hose, located at the crotch, popular in Europe from the 15th to the early 18th century. It came into fashion with hose that were like tights and continued to be worn with breeches. An earlier, narrower form of codpiece, worn with a belt or loincloth instead of hose or tights, was the basic fashion for men in the Aegean area during the Bronze Age.

      In the early and mid-16th century the codpiece was padded, prominent, and decorated, even with jewels, but by 1580 it was mocked and thought indecent. After the pouch had disappeared, the name continued to be used into the 18th century for the front fastening of breeches.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Codpiece — Cod piece , n. [Cod, n., ? + piece.] A part of male dress in front of the breeches, formerly made very conspicuous. Shak. Fosbroke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • codpiece — mid 15c., a bagged appendage to the front of the breeches; often conspicuous [OED], from O.E. codd a bag, pouch, husk, in M.E., testicles (common Germanic, Cf. O.N. koddi pillow, Du. kodde bag ) + PIECE (Cf. piece) …   Etymology dictionary

  • codpiece — ► NOUN ▪ a pouch to cover the genitals on a pair of man s breeches, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries. ORIGIN from earlier cod «scrotum», from Old English, «bag» …   English terms dictionary

  • codpiece — [käd′pēs΄] n. [ COD2 + PIECE] a bag or flap fastened over the front opening in the tight breeches worn by men in the 15th and 16th cent …   English World dictionary

  • Codpiece — Henry VIII wearing a codpiece A codpiece (from Middle English: cod, meaning scrotum ) is a covering flap or pouch that attaches to the front of the crotch of men s trousers and usually accentuates the genital area. It was held closed by string… …   Wikipedia

  • codpiece — UK [ˈkɒdˌpiːs] / US [ˈkɑdˌpɪs] noun [countable] Word forms codpiece : singular codpiece plural codpieces a piece of material covering a man s sexual organs, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries …   English dictionary

  • codpiece — noun /ˈkɒdˌpiːs/ a) A part of male dress in front of the breeches to cover the male genitals, sometimes made very conspicuous in former times. Borachio: Seest thou not, I say, what a deformed thief this fashion is, how giddily ’a turns about all… …   Wiktionary

  • codpiece — [[t]kɒ̱dpiːs[/t]] codpieces N COUNT A codpiece was a piece of material worn by men in the 15th and 16th centuries to cover their genitals …   English dictionary

  • codpiece — noun Etymology: Middle English codpese, from cod bag, scrotum (from Old English codd) + pese piece Date: 15th century a flap or bag concealing an opening in the front of men s breeches especially in the 15th and 16th centuries …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • codpiece — cod|piece [ˈkɔdpi:s US ˈka:d ] n [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: cod bag, scrotum (11 19 centuries) (from Old English codd) + piece] a piece of coloured cloth worn by men in the 15th and 16th centuries to cover the opening in the front of their… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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