A codpiece (from Middle English cod ' scrotum ') is a triangular piece that attached to the front of men's hose, covering the fly. It may be held in place by ties or buttons.

Originally simply a wedge-shaped bag of fabric tied at the sides, codpieces became increasingly padded and enlarged in order to emphasize the male genitalia. They were also sometimes …

Aug 16, 2018 · Originally created as the join between the two hoses at the groin, the codpiece eventually became an ornate piece of male dress in the 16th century.

Feb 4, 2024 · The very word "codpiece" comes from the Old English "cod", meaning "scrotum", while one satirical text Bartels found compared the protection they offered – especially on …

Apr 30, 2015 · From these practical beginnings, the codpiece (‘cod’ was slang for scrotum) became a fashion item in its own right. In the 15th century men’s dress comprised doublet or …

May 23, 2020 · The codpiece had one stockinged foot in that world—“cod” was slang for the scrotum, not the penis—and the other in a racy alternative that valued “sexual conquest” more …

Apr 8, 2020 · So a triangle of cloth was fashioned, perhaps out of a piece of coarse linen. This was the codpiece, and its role was a protective one, to safeguard the precious honourable …

Aug 14, 2025 · What’s the history of this garment that to us seems so ridiculous, and which to Henry VIII seemed the ultimate symbol of masculinity? The codpiece is buttoned, or tied with …

Aug 3, 2024 · During the medieval times, the Cod piece was a popular fashion accessory among men in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was essentially a covering for the genitalia, but it served …

A codpiece (from Middle English cod ' scrotum ') is a triangular piece that attached to the front of men's hose, covering the fly. It may be held in place by ties or buttons.