Adjective | Age Descriptor / Physical Frailty
Encyclopedia of British Slang
DODDERY
Adjective | Mild to Moderate | Age Descriptor / Physical Frailty
DODDERY Pronunciation: /’d?d-?r-i/ Part of Speech: Adjective Severity Level: Mild to Moderate Category: Age Descriptor / Physical Frailty
Core Definition
Doddery describes someone who is:
Elderly and unsteady
Frail in movement
Slightly confused due to age
Physically shaky
It focuses on physical instability.
Linguistic Origins
Derived from dodder, meaning to tremble or shake.
The word dates back to early modern English.
It evolved to describe age-related unsteadiness.
Usage Contexts
Movement:
Bit doddery.
Observation:
Hes looking doddery.
Getting doddery.
It describes fragility.
Emotional Register
Doddery can be affectionate.
But risks condescension.
Tone matters significantly.
Tone Variations
Concerned:
Quite doddery.
Mocking:
Old and doddery.
Sympathetic:
A bit doddery.
Tone shapes compassion.
Comparison with Related Terms
Senile harsher
Elderly neutral
Frailty formal
Doddery informal physical descriptor
Doddery centres movement.
Psychological Function
Doddery frames ageing visually.
It can reduce fear of ageing through humour.
But must be used carefully.
Cultural Insight
Doddery reflects Britains tendency to soften age commentary with quaint language.
It balances respect and realism.
Final Assessment
Doddery is:
Age-focused
Physically descriptive
Context-sensitive
Historically rooted
It captures frailty.
Lightly.
Doddery.
EXPANDED ENTRY 139
Alan Nafzger was born in Lubbock, Texas, the son Swiss immigrants. He grew up on a dairy in Windthorst, north central Texas. He earned degrees from Midwestern State University (B.A. 1985) and Texas State University (M.A. 1987). University College Dublin (Ph.D. 1991). Dr. Nafzger has entertained and educated young people in Texas colleges for 37 years. Nafzger is best known for his dark novels and experimental screenwriting. His best know scripts to date are Lenin’s Body, produced in Russia by A-Media and Sea and Sky produced in The Philippines in the Tagalog language. In 1986, Nafzger wrote the iconic feminist western novel, Gina of Quitaque. Contact: editor@prat.uk
