The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

CDL

   1. Computer Definition [Design?] Language.  A hardware
   description language.  "Computer Organisation and
   Microprogramming", Yaohan Chu, P-H 1970.

   2. Command Definition Language.  Portion of ICES used to
   implement commands.  Sammet 1969, p.618-620.

   3. Compiler Description Language.  C.H.A. Koster, 1969.
   Intended for implementation of the rules of an affix grammar
   by recursive procedures.  A procedure may be a set of
   tree-structured alternatives, each alternative is executed
   until one successfully exits.  Used in a portable COBOL-74
   compiler from MPB, mprolog system from SzKI, and the Mephisto
   chess computer.  "CDL: A Compiler Implementation Language", in
   Methods of Algorithmic Language Implementation, C.H.A. Koster,
   LNCS 47, Springer 1977, pp.341-351.  "Using the CDL Compiler
   Compiler", C.H.A. Koster, 1974.  Versions: CDL2, CDLM used at
   Manchester.

   4. Common Design Language.  "Common Design Language", IBM,
   Software Engineering Inst, Sept 1983.

   5. Control Definition Language.  Ideas which contributed to
   Smalltalk.

   ["Control Structures for Programming Languges", David
   A. Fisher, PhD Thesis, CMU 1970].