Cow"ard (kou"?rd), 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.

2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.

Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch.
Shak.

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

He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
Shak.

Invading fears repel my coward joy.
Proir.

Cow"ard, n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon.

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

Syn. -- Craven; poltroon; dastard.

Cow"ard, v. t. To make timorous; to frighten. [Obs.]

That which cowardeth a man's heart.
Foxe.

{{en}}
• a person who lacks courage
  
• A trait from the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of OZ
       
• A coward is worse than a back-biting dog. At least you can put the dog down.