pod1

 
Pronunciation: /pɒd/

noun

  • 1an elongated seed vessel of a leguminous plant such as the pea, splitting open on both sides when ripe: gorse pods were popping in the sun
  • the egg case of a locust.
  • Geology a body of rock or sediment whose length greatly exceeds its other dimensions: chalk-rich pods of glaciofluvial sands and gravels
  • a narrow-necked purse net for catching eels.
  • 2 [often with modifier] a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function: the torpedo’s sensor pod

verb (pods, podding, podded)

  • 1 [no object] (of a plant) bear or form pods: the peas have failed to pod
  • 2 [with object] remove (peas or beans) from their pods prior to cooking: our friends would pick and pod the peas and beans

Phrases

in pod

informal, dated pregnant.

Origin:

late 17th century: back-formation from dialect podware, podder 'field crops', of unknown origin