As a noun, a masculine given name, often short for Theodore or Edward. As a verb, to spread newly mown grass for drying into hay.
As a name, from Greek Theodore meaning 'gift of God' or Old English Edward meaning 'wealthy guardian.' The agricultural verb comes from Middle English tedden, possibly from Old Norse teðja meaning 'to spread manure.'
The farming sense of 'tedding' hay connects to our modern phrase 'don't make a federal case of it'—both involve spreading things out methodically. Ted as a nickname shows how formal names get shortened in English, often losing their original meaning entirely.
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