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Webster 1913 Edition

Coward

Cow′ard

(kou′?rd)
,
Adj.
[OF.
couard
,
coard
,
coart
,
n.
and adj., F.
couard
, fr. OF.
coe
,
coue
, tail, F.
queue
(fr. L.
coda
, a form of
cauda
tail) +
-ard
; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf.
Cue
,
Queue
,
Caudal
.]
1.
(Her.)
Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; – said of a lion.
2.
Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.
Fie,
coward
woman, and soft-hearted wretch.
Shakespeare
3.
Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity.
He raised the house with loud and
coward
cries.
Shakespeare
Invading fears repel my
coward
joy.
Proir.

Cow′ard

,
Noun.
A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon.
Syn. – Craven; poltroon; dastard.

Cow′ard

,
Verb.
T.
To make timorous; to frighten.
[Obs.]
That which
cowardeth
a man’s heart.
Foxe.

Webster 1828 Edition

Coward

COWARD

,
Noun.
[L.]
1.
A person who wants courage to meet danger; a poltroon; a timid or pusillanimous man.
A coward does not always escape with disgrace, but sometimes loses his life.
2.
In heraldry, a term given to a lion borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs.

COWARD

,
Adj.
1.
Destitute of courage; timid; base; as a coward wretch.
2.
Proceeding from or expressive of fear, or timidity; as coward cry; coward joy.

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