codpiece

noun

cod·​piece ˈkäd-ˌpēs 

: a flap or bag concealing an opening in the front of men's breeches especially in the 15th and 16th centuries

Examples of codpiece in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some critics see them as the modern-day codpiece (in the 16th century, the fabric pouch evolved from a practical modesty garment into a prominent fashion statement and symbol of masculinity). —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025

Oh yes, there were codpieces, and contact lenses. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025

Things jumped the shark when the chat turned to the topic of the codpiece routinely worn on stage by Simmons, also notorious for his theatrically snaking tongue. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

On Monday,YouTube star and singer Jojo Siwa inverted the fad by donning a codpiece for a headline-grabbing cover shoot with LadyGunn magazine. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English codpese, from cod "bag, scrotum" (going back to Old English codd, akin to Middle Dutch codde "cylindrical piece of wood," Old Frisian kudda "cudgel," Middle Low German kudde, kodde "hog," Old Norse koddi "pillow, scrotum," all from a Germanic base denoting something distended and unevenly shaped) + pese piece entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for codpiece

• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise
• decease
• decrease
• eyepiece
• facepiece
• handpiece
• headpiece
• increase