Etymologically
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coward

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈkaʊəd/, /ˈkaʊɚd/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Anglo-Norman couard,[2][3] from Old French coart,[4][2][5] from coe “tail”,[4][2][5][3] from Latin coda,[4][2] a dialect form of Latin cauda (“tail”),[5][4][2][3] and the suffix -ard.[4][2][6] English spelling was influenced by cow.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain (before 1225).[7][4][2]

Semantic evolution

The tail probably refers to a frightened animal turning tail or tucking its tail between its legs.[4][2] In the Old French tales of Reynard the Fox, the hare is named Coart.[4][2] In English coward was also an old name for the hare,[7] and for a cock that would not fight.[7] As an adjective it is recorded from 1297.[7] Italian codardo and Spanish cobarde were borrowed from French.[2]

Timeline

  • a1225 – one who lacks courage.[7][4]
  • 1297 – adjective, faint-hearted.[7]
  • c1300 – verb, to make afraid.[7]
  • 1481 – a spiritless racehorse.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who lacks courage in facing danger, pain or difficulty.

Adjective

  1. Lacking courage; cowardly.

Word family

  • cowardly
  • cowardice
  • coda
  • queue
  • craven
  • poltroon

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press