ˈdastə(r)d noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from Old Norse dæstr exhausted (past participle of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath) + Middle English -ard; akin to Old Norse dasa sk to become exhausted — more at daze
1. obsolete : dullard
2. : one who shrinks from danger : coward ; especially : one who carries out malicious or sneaky acts without exposing himself to danger
like a dastard and a treacherous coward — Shakespeare