coward
Meaning
Synonyms
weak person
timid person
worthless person
fearful person
yellow-belly
chicken hearted
Translations
Feigling
cobarde
codardo
lâche
lafaard
covard
δειλόςFrequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈkaʊəd/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English coward, from Old French coart, cuard ( > French couard), from coue (“tail”), coe + -ard (pejorative agent noun suffix); coue, coe is in turn from Latin cauda. The reference seems to be to an animal "turning tail", or having its tail between its legs, especially a dog. Compare the expression tail between one's legs. Displaced native Old English earg (surviving in northern dialect English argh). Unrelated to cower, which is of Germanic origin.
Notes
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