subs. (colloquial).—1. A foot: specifically of children. Hence, TO POD = to toddle.
2. A protuberant belly; a CORPORATION (q.v.): also POD-BELLY. Hence, POD-BELLIED (PODDY, or IN POD) = (1) fat or stout: of men; and (2) pregnant, LUMPY (q.v.): of women. Hence, too, PODGY, PUDGY, and PUDSEY. See POT.
1753. RICHARDSON, The History of Sir Charles Grandison, vii. 232. He … kissed its forehead, its cheek, its lips, its little PUDSEY hands, first one, then the other.
1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, I. The vestry clerk, as everybody knows, is a short, PUDGY, little man in black.
1845. THACKERAY, From Cornhill to Grand Cairo, iii. The good old man! I wish I had had a shake of that trembling PODGY hand somehow before he went upon his sea martrydom. Ibid. (1854), The Newcomes, vii. She … with infinite grace put forward one of the PUDGY little hands, in one of the dirty gloves.
1871. ARNOLD, Friendship’s Garland, v. A blond and disorderly mass of tow-like hair, a PODGY and sanguine countenance.
1885. The Field, 17 Oct. A good little spaniel if she was not shown so fat and PODGY.
3. (Scots’).—A louse: see CHATES.
