English Explanatory Dictionary

coward

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person who lacks courage.
adj
  1. Cowardly.
  2. Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs.
verb
  1. To intimidate.
name
  1. A surname originating as an occupation.

Pronunciation

kou'əd /ˈkaʊəd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-coward.wav kou'ərd /ˈkaʊɚd/ En-US-coward.wav /ˈkawə(ɾ)d/

Word forms

coward cowards more coward most coward cowarding cowarded

Etymology

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. Displaced native Old English earg (surviving in northern dialect English argh). Unrelated to cower, which is of Germanic origin.

Synonyms

chicken pullet scaredy pants yellowbelly big baby baby bottler caitiff candy-ass candy-arse coistril coward chicken liver chickenshit cocktail cowardy custard craven dog fraidy cat funker gutless wonder invertebrate jessie lizard milquetoast nancy niddering nidering nidget niding nithing piece of crap piece of shit pisspants poltroon punk pussy pussyhole quiche-eater quakebreech quakebuttock recreant scaredy cat shithouse sissy slag sluggard snool sook weak sister wheyface yellow belly yellow back

Antonyms

hero

Related words

are you a man or a mouse crybaby mama's boy pussy-cat cowardice cowardly fear afraid milksop effeminate man

Derived words

cowardess cowardice cowardish cowardize cowardly cowardness cowardry cowardship cowardy God hates a coward Cowardesque Cowardian
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