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The meaning and origin of the expression: Clod-hopper

Clod-hopper

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Clod hopper'?

A rough, unsophisticated countryman.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Clod hopper'?

There's not a great deal to be said about this term. The derivation isn't known, although it could be as a comic allusion to grasshopper. Clods are lumps of earth, of course, and the word derives as a variant of 'clot' - a coagulation.

The term clod-hopper is first cited in the definition in 'A New Dictionary of the Terms Ancient and Modern of the Canting Crew', 1690:

"Clod-hopper, a Ploughman."

It was usually used, as a term of derision, by townspeople at the expense of muddy booted yokels - much in the way the 'bog-trotter' is now used to defame the rural Irish.

Since the early 19th century, in the UK and USA, 'clod-hoppers' were also the name given to ploughmen's boots.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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