coward

coward · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromcauda
2. Old French · derived fromcoart
3. Middle English · inherited fromcoward
4. English todaycoward

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.

Coward · proper noun²

1. Old English · inherited fromcūhierde“cowherd”
2. English todayCoward

From Old English cūhierde (“cowherd”). Doublet of Cowherd and cowherd.

Words from the same roots