E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Hodge.
A generic name for a farm-labourer or peasant. (Said to be an abbreviated form of Roger, as Hob is of Rob or Robin.)
1
“Promises held out in order to gain the votes of the agricultural labourers; promises given simply to obtain the vote of ‘Hodge,’ who will soon find out that his vote was all that was wanted.”—Newspaper paragraph, Dec., 1885.
