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Dictionary Language resources

coward

Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊəd/

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Definition of coward

noun

a person who is contemptibly lacking in the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things: they had run away—the cowards!

adjective

1 literary excessively afraid of danger or pain.

2 Heraldry (of an animal) depicted with the tail between the hind legs.

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French couard, based on Latin cauda 'tail', possibly with reference to a frightened animal with its tail between its legs, reflected in coward (sense 2 of the adjective) (early 16th century)