coward

cow·ard  (kourd)

n.

One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain.

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[Middle English, from Old French couard, from coue, tail, from Latin cauda.]

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coward adj.

Word History: A coward is one who "turns tail." The word comes from Old French couart, coart, "coward," and is related to Italian codardo, "coward." Couart is formed from coe, a northern French dialectal variant of cue, "tail" (from Latin cda), to which the derogatory suffix -ard was added. This suffix appears in bastard, laggard, and sluggard, to name a few. A coward may also be one with his tail between his legs. In heraldry a lion couard, "cowardly lion," was depicted with his tail between his legs. So a coward may be one with his tail hidden between his legs or one who turns tail and runs like a rabbit, with his tail showing.

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coward

Noun

a person who is easily frightened and avoids dangerous or difficult situations [Latin cauda tail]

cowardly adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	coward - a person who shows fear or timidity individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" cur - a cowardly and despicable person dastard - a despicable coward craven, poltroon, recreant - an abject coward trembler, quaker - one who quakes and trembles with (or as with) fear shrinking violet, shy person - someone who shrinks from familiarity with others milksop, Milquetoast, pantywaist, sissy, pansy - a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive hesitater, hesitator, vacillator, waverer - one who hesitates (usually out of fear)
	2.	Coward - English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973) Noel Coward, Sir Noel Pierce Coward

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coward

noun wimp, chicken (slang) scaredy-cat (informal) sneak, pussy (slang), chiefly U.S. yellow-belly (slang)

Translations

coward [ˈkauəd] n → cobarde m/f

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coward [ˈkauəd] n → lâche m/f

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coward [ˈkauəd] n → Feigling m