Hod

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /hÉ’d/

Definitions

  1. A device specifically used in construction for carrying and mixing building materials, which typically has a tray-like shape and a handle for ease of transport
  2. An implement characterized by a flat, rectangular tray and an attached handle, used for the movement of materials like mortar or bricks in construction activities
  3. A simple handheld tray with a handle, designed to transport materials like bricks or mortar on building sites

Etymology: The word "hod" for a tray carried on the shoulder, used by bricklayers, comes from a verb meaning to shake or jolt. Its ancestry runs through a family of words for jerky movement: English "hotch" (to move irregularly up and down, or to swarm) and Scots "hotter" (to jolt or shake as one walks) belong to the same group, and the Old French "hocher" (to nod the head) is a close relative. Behind them lies a reconstructed Germanic verb meaning to shake or toss, which is probably onomatopoeic, imitating the bobbing motion of something being jostled. The link to construction is a matter of how the tool is used. A hod is loaded with bricks or mortar and carried up ladders, and its load bounces and shifts with every step, so the name describes the motion of the carrier and the load together.

Synonyms: container, basket