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dastardly

Etymology and origin of the English word dastardly

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈdɑːstədli/, /ˈdæstədli/ (UK); /ˈdæstɚdli/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from dastard “a base coward” and the suffix -ly.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Merriam-Webster dates the adjective to 1542.[4] In the OED the adverb “in a cowardly manner” is first recorded in 1552, and the adjective in 1567 with the sense “dull, stupid”.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

The early sense of mental dullness is now obsolete.[5] From 1576 the adjective meant showing mean or despicable cowardice,[5][2] and it came to describe underhand or treacherous acts as well,[4][1] as in a dastardly attack.[4]

Timeline

  • 1542 – first recorded (Merriam-Webster).[4]
  • 1550s – dastardliness.[2]
  • 1552 – adverb, in a cowardly way.[5]
  • 1567 – dull, stupid (obsolete).[5]
  • 1576 – despicably cowardly.[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Cowardly and malicious; meanly base.
  2. Underhand or treacherous.

Word family

  • dastardliness

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Dastardly.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/dastardly. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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