dodge
UK[dɒdʒ]US[dɑːdʒ]
v
to move quickly to one side in order to avoid somebody or something
v
to avoid doing something, especially in a dishonest way
n
a quick movement to avoid somebody or something
n
a clever and dishonest trick, done in order to avoid something
Etymology
The verb 'dodge' first appeared in English in the mid-16th century, though its ultimate origin remains obscure. It is likely a dialectal or colloquial coinage, possibly imitative of a quick, jerking movement. The core semantic logic has remained consistent: from its earliest uses describing a sudden bodily movement to evade something, it naturally extended to metaphorical evasions in action and speech. This journey from a physical, perhaps onomatopoeic, action to a term for clever avoidance encapsulates the word's functional evolution.
Analysis
The word 'dodge' is a simplex word of uncertain origin. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
He dodged to avoid the flying ball.
The politician was accused of dodging the question.
A quick dodge saved the goalkeeper from injury.