Cow"ard (kou"?rd), a. [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.]

1. Her.

Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion.

2.

Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.

Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.

3.

Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity.

He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak.

Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.

 

© Webster 1913.


Cow"ard, n.

A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon.

A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.

Syn. -- Craven; poltroon; dastard.

 

© Webster 1913.


Cow"ard, v. t.

To make timoroys; to frighten.

[Obs.]

That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.

 

© Webster 1913.