Roger

This article is about the personal name. For the radio term, see Voice procedure. For the 1920s car, see Roger (automobile).
Roger
Family name
Pronunciation /ˈrɒdʒər/
Meaning Famous with the spear
Region of origin England
Related names Rodgers, Rogerson

Roger (sometimes spelled Rodger) is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin.[1] The name Roger is derived from the pre-7th century Anglo-Saxon (Teutonic) name Hroðgar, which means 'fame and spear' ('hroð' fame or renown, 'gar' spear), the first reference to which is in Beowulf, the epic poem of the Dark Ages.

The name is also found in the Netherlands and Normandy in the forms "Rutger" and "Rogier". The Latin form of the name is Rogerius, as used by a few medieval figures. The variant Rosser comes from a Welsh derivation of the Old Norse Rhosier meaning “renown for his sword” (or spear).[2]

Slang

Look up roger in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Roger is also a short version of the term "Jolly Roger", which refers to a black flag with white skull and crossbones, formerly used by sea pirates since as early as 1723.

From c.1650 to c.1870, Roger was slang for the word "penis", probably due to the origin of the name involving fame with a spear.[3][4][5] Subsequently, "to roger" became a slang verb form meaning "to have sex with/ to penetrate".

In 19th century England, Roger was slang for the cloud of toxic green gas that swept through the chlorine bleach factories periodically.[6]

The name "Hodge" is a corruption of Roger in England, where it was used as a colloquial term by townsfolk, implying a rustic.[7]

In "Under Milk Wood", Dylan Thomas writes "jolly, rodgered" suggesting both "Jolly Roger", the pirate flag, and Roger, the slang for "penis". [8]

Spellings

The following forenames are related to the English forename Roger:

People

Only name

See also All pages beginning with "Roger de", All pages beginning with "Roger of" and All pages beginning with "Roger van" for people with these names

Given name

Surname

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roger Surname
  2. ↑ Rosser - Welsh for Roger
  3. ↑ Slang usage meaning penis from c.1650 to c.1870 - information from the Online Etymology Dictionary.
  4. ↑ Vulgar slang usage meaning to have sexual intercourse (mainly by men) - Oxford Dictionary
  5. ↑ wiktionary:roger
  6. ↑ Sherard, Robert (1897). The White Slaves of England.
  7. ↑ Book of the British Countryside. London: Drive Publications. 1973. p. 366.
  8. ↑ Under Milk Wood. The Definitive Edition. Dylan Thomas. Edited by Walford Davies and Ralph Maud. Last explanatory note referred to page 3, (p. 3), of the original text. Phoenix, an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group. p. 66.