You'd be kind of shocked by the exotic etymology :)
Lodyga, diminutive lodyzhka, means an anklebone, or knucklebone in cows, sheep and horses. These bones were used to play "knucklebones" or "knuckles" (babki in Russia), an ancient world-wide game. However, the players were usually considered lazy and do-nothing guys, so to be a lodyga, or lodyzhnik, meant to be known by neighbours as a lazybone, work-shy.
My wife doesn't leave our hairdresser, Marina, a tip. But I always
manage to somehow slip her a $20 after my wife pays her. No wonder my
wife thinks Marina goes out of her way when she cuts our hair—I make
sure of it, and I think everyone should. My wife can never figure out
why Marina is extra friendly and sometimes stays late for us, but I do.