I. ˈkau̇](ə)rd, ]əd noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English coward, cuard, from Old French coart, cuart, adj & noun, from coe, coue tail (from Latin cauda ) + -art -ard; from the idea of a coward retreating to the tail end of an army, or from the idea of a frightened animal with its tail between its legs
: one who shows ignoble fear : a basely timid, easily frightened, and easily daunted person
a coward , irresolute, impulsive in any crisis — Walter de la Mare
is an arrant coward and shows the white feather at the slightest display of pluck in his antagonist — John Burroughs
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English coward, cuard, from Old French coart, cuart, adjective & noun
1.
a. : having or arising from a coward's nature : timid , fainthearted , cowardly
that craven coward knight — Edmund Spenser
neither altogether coward nor brave — John Reed
b. : of or characteristic of a coward or cowardice
coward cries
coward deceit
2. heraldry : borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs
a lion coward
Synonyms: see cowardly
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English cowarden, from coward (I)
obsolete : to make timorous : frighten : cause to show cowardice