coward

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See also: Coward

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English coward, from Old French coart, cuard ( > French couard), from coue (tail), coe + -ard (pejorative agent noun suffix); coue, coe is in turn from Latin cauda. The reference seems to be to an animal "turning tail", or having its tail between its legs, especially a dog. Compare the expression tail between one's legs. Unrelated to English cower. Displaced native Old English earg (surviving in northern dialect English argh).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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coward (plural cowards)

  1. A person who lacks courage.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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coward (comparative more coward, superlative most coward)

A lion coward.
  1. Cowardly.
  2. (heraldry, of a lion) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs.

Verb

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coward (third-person singular simple present cowards, present participle cowarding, simple past and past participle cowarded)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To intimidate.
    • 1820, John Chalkhill, Thealma and Clearchus:
      The first he coped with was their captain, whom / His sword sent headless to seek out a tomb. / This cowarded the valour of the rest, []

References

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Middle English

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Etymology 1

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Borrowed from Old French coart; equivalent to Old French coe (tail) +‎ -ard. Compare taylarde.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkuːard/, /ˈkɔu̯ard/

Noun

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coward

  1. coward, knave
  2. (rare) idiot, simpleton
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Descendants
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  • English: coward
  • Scots: cooart, coort
References
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Adjective

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coward

  1. cowardly
  2. (rare) stupid
Descendants
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References
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Etymology 2

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Noun

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coward

  1. Alternative form of couherde