o....what exactly is a Codpiece?

The codpiece emerged (no pun intended!) in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries from the dilemma of how to cover a man's genitals when the jackets or doublets became shorter. The height of its popularity was during the early sixteenth century when it became an elaborate yet functional part of men's costume.

However, the drawing of emphasis to the male genitalia actually occurred at an earlier time when the 'long' look became popular. In the mid-fourteenth century, the waistline was dropped to the hips in order to make the body look longer, and the hemline was shortened in order to make the legs look longer. From the 1340s to the 1360s mens' hems rose from the knee to mid-thigh with the result that, when a man was sitting down or mounting his horse, there was a clear view all the way up his hose to his drawers. For the first time in western fashion the male genitals were being flaunted for all to see! The result was that the male bulge was to be the center of attention for the next 200 years.

Almost--it's something to cover the 'hooha'!

    So it's essentially an ancient nut cup!

gotcha... 

Yeah--the original cover for pocket pool!
(That's not a foreign phrase, it it?)

        YOU KILL ME!!!

But in a good way, I trust?

Nice to share the humour! 
(OOPS--British spelling escaped again...)

There are just too many new googlies to choose from!