Added 9 October 2026
coward
/ˈkaʊəd/ noun
Latin root: cauda Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about coward at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
adjective
- Cowardly.
- Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs.
verb
- To intimidate.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)