coward

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who is too afraid to do what is difficult or dangerous.

   Everyone called him a coward for running away from the fight.

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Simplified etymology

Coward ultimately derives from Latin cauda “tail,” perhaps reflecting the image of a frightened animal putting its tail between its legs or turning tail in flight. The heraldic expression lion coward similarly describes a lion shown with its tail between its hind legs. Despite their similarity, cower is unrelated and is connected with German kauern “lie in wait.”

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.

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