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hod: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare
UK/hɒd/US/hɑːd/

Specialised, Technical, Archaic

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Quick answer

What does “hod” mean?

A V-shaped open container, typically mounted on a pole and carried over the shoulder, used for transporting bricks, mortar, or coal.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A V-shaped open container, typically mounted on a pole and carried over the shoulder, used for transporting bricks, mortar, or coal.

Primarily refers to the traditional builder's tool. Can be used metaphorically to describe a burden or a cumbersome container.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Equally rare in both dialects. The tool/occupation it describes is identical. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK historical contexts (e.g., Victorian coal delivery).

Connotations

Connotes manual labour, historical practices, and specific trades. No positive or negative connotation beyond this.

Frequency

Very low frequency. Most modern native speakers would not know the word unless they have a background in construction history.

Grammar

How to Use “hod” in a Sentence

carry [a/the] hodfill [a/the] hod with [material]shoulder [a/the] hod

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
brick hodmortar hodcoal hodhod carrier
medium
carry a hodshoulder a hoda hod of bricks
weak
full hodheavy hodempty hod

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Only in historical or technical papers on construction, masonry, or Victorian-era social history.

Everyday

Virtually never used. Unfamiliar to the general public.

Technical

Used within the construction trade, specifically bricklaying, to refer to the traditional tool or the role of the 'hod carrier' (labourer who supplies materials).

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “hod”

Strong

hod carrier (for the person)hoddie (archaic)

Neutral

carrying trayscuttle (for coal)coal scuttle

Weak

bucket (inexact)tray (inexact)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “hod”

  • Using 'hod' to mean a general basket or box (it is a very specific tool).
  • Confusing 'hod' with 'hot'.
  • Assuming it is a verb (it is exclusively a noun).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a very rare and specialised term. Most English speakers will not know it unless they have a specific interest in historical trades or construction.

No, 'hod' is only used as a noun. The related action would be 'to carry a hod'.

A labourer whose job is to carry a hod, supplying materials like bricks and mortar to bricklayers or masons.

No, it is not etymologically related to either. It comes from a different historical root meaning 'basket' or 'pail'.

A V-shaped open container, typically mounted on a pole and carried over the shoulder, used for transporting bricks, mortar, or coal.

Hod is usually specialised, technical, archaic in register.

Hod: in British English it is pronounced /hɒd/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɑːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “To carry the hod: To do the hard, unskilled labour.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a HOT day and a labourer CARRYING a heavy container - HOD rhymes with 'pod', think of a pea pod carrying peas as a hod carries bricks.

Conceptual Metaphor

CONTAINER FOR BURDEN (The hod is a physical container that metaphorically represents a burden of labour or responsibility).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Before modern machinery, a would carry bricks and mortar up the ladder to the bricklayers.
Multiple Choice

What is a 'hod' primarily used for?

hod: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore