Chod

Chod is a term used in several languages with different meanings. In Czech and Slovak, chod is commonly a noun meaning a course in a meal; phrases such as první chod and druhý chod illustrate this culinary usage.

In historical and ethnographic contexts, Chod (often capitalized as Chodové) refers to a historic Slavic people who lived in western Bohemia, in the area later known as Chodsko. The Chodové were associated with border defense and the management of trade routes in the region, and their distinctive identity is recorded in sources from the Middle Ages onward. The origin of the ethnonym is debated. Some linguists connect it to a verb meaning “to walk” or to a word for “path,” reflecting mobility or duties along routes, while others propose alternative etymologies or exonyms adopted by neighboring populations.

As a surname, Chod occurs in various linguistic and cultural contexts. In modern usage, it appears in genealogical and onomastic discussions and may be found as a family name in different countries, sometimes with variations in spelling.

The term chod thus has at least two primary senses: a common culinary meaning in Czech and Slovak, and a historical ethnonym tied to western Bohemia, with a recognized but debated etymology. In all uses, context is essential to determine the intended meaning.