Why do people say "odd" after a number?

Question

For example, 15 odd years.

Answer 1

c.1300, "constituting a unit in excess of an even number," from O.N. oddi "third or additional number," as in odda-maðr "third man, odd man (who gives the casting vote)

Used from 1382 to indicate a surplus over any given sum.

---leftover: leftover, and usually few in number
being without a corresponding mate b (1) : left over after others are paired or grouped (2) : separated from a set or series

Here's an odd note in Cambridge (Who ever heard that detail of relating to the number ten? I certainly haven't):
odd (APPROXIMATELY)
[Show phonetics]
adverb [not gradable]
used after a number, esp. a number that can be divided by 10, to show that the exact number is not known
He holds another 50-odd acres of land in reserve, providing plenty of room for expansion.

Answer 2

It means "about" or some not exact or important number.

Webster's Dictionary indicates "odd" means something above the stated number.

Answer 3

Another check on dictionary.com comes up with this as one of the definitions of 'odd':

more or less, esp. a little more (used in combination with a round number)

There you go!

Answer 4

15 odd years = 15 years or so

It's just used like that.

Answer 5

I think it's just another word for "approximately". They can't give an absolute time frame, so, they add "odd" ... meaning it could be more or less ... by a year or two.

Answer 6

after 15 yrs

Answer 7

It means "give or take," "aproximately," "-ish," or "I don't really know when it happened but 15 years sounds about right."

Answer 8

I never noticed that before.

Answer 9

means 'or maybe a few more'

Answer 10

dunno.