cowar

a. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.

Syn. -- Craven; poltroon; dastard. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. couardise, fr. couard. See Coward. ] Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity; pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moderation was despised as cowardice. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. couardie. ] Cowardice. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cowardly. [ Obs. ] “A base and a cowardish mind.” Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To render cowardly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

God . . . cowardizeth . . . insolent spirits. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Cowardice. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous; spiritless. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face. Burke.

Syn. -- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant; craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered. [ 1913 Webster ]