Etymology: Origin unknown.Etymological hypotheses. It has been suggested that the word is ultimately a specific use of tod n.², with reference to the animal's bushy or tufted tail, but that word is first attested later, and (more significantly) early evidence for tod n.² comes from the south of England and southern parts of the midlands, whereas the word for the fox is markedly northern throughout its history. An alternative suggestion, interpreting the word as the word < Early Irish táid thief (ultimately < the same Indo-European base as Old Church Slavonic tatĭ thief) poses phonological problems. Probable earlier occurrence in proper names. Slightly earlier currency is apparently implied by use in the place names Todholerig , Selkirkshire (a1182; now Todrig: see tod hole n. at Compounds 1b) and Todhill', West Riding, Yorkshire (a1185, now Toadhill Lane). Probably also attested slightly earlier as a surname: Hugo Tod (a1175); compare also Arding Tod (1225), Richard Todd (1231), Richard le Todde (1275), Henr. Tod (1332), etc.; not all of these are from northern contexts, and it is not always clear whether they show this word.

Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps from an unattested Middle Dutch antecedent of Dutch tod , todde rag, apparently cognate with Old High German zota mane, shaggy hair, wool (Middle High German zote , zotte shaggy hair, tangled threads, German Zotte long shaggy or matted wool or hair, now rare), Old Icelandic toddi small piece (Icelandic toddi , also in sense ‘tuft of wool or grass’), Swedish †tudde small clump of hair, moss, etc. (1749), Swedish (regional) todd conglomerated mass, further etymology uncertain, probably of expressive origin. Compare Swedish tott mass of wool (1580 as totte ), Danish tot mass of hair, wool, etc., (regional) the unspun fibre on a distaff (in early modern Danish also as totte ). Compare also post-classical Latin todda set quantity of hay (?a1307 in a British source), set quantity of wool (1516 in a British source), perhaps < English (which would imply earlier currency of the English word). With sense 1b compare further Dutch regional (Groningen) todde , tod burden, load, German regional (Low German: East Friesland) todde bundle, pack, small load (of hay, straw, turf, etc.), probably related to the Germanic forms cited above (although compare the discussion at tode v.).

Etymology: Shortened < toddy n.

Etymology: Apparently short for Tod Sloan n. (although this is first attested later). Compare earlier pat n.⁴

Etymology: < tod n.²