poltroon

plural poltroons · alternative poltron

1. An ignoble or total coward; a dastard; a mean-spirited wretch.

   You damned poltroon, you never tried them!

   1778, George Washington, to Charles Lee following an act of insubordination

   5 more examples

   Patience is for poltroons, such as he: He durst not sit there, had your father lived.

   c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   For the Devil’s a Coward in Nature, A pitiful sorry Poltroon; If you take but the Whip, he’ll give you the Slip; And before you can lash him, he’ll run.

   1727, Daniel Defoe, edited by J. Roberts, An Essay on the History and Reality of Apparitions, London, Chapter 8, page 144

   "To gain life by means of a breach of faith and honour, were indeed to render myself the poltroon, and the villain my accusers believe me."

   1842, Nicholas Michell, “Chapter 28”, in The Traduced: An Historical Romance, volume I, London: T. & W. Boone, pages 266–267

   Strong had long understood Sir Francis Clavering’s character, as that of a man utterly weak in purpose, in principle, and intellect, a moral and physical trifler and poltroon.

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 38, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC

   The chief said, "That was the Colonel, likely. I've been expecting him for two days. He will be up now right away." He was correct. The Colonel appeared in the door a moment afterward with a dragoon revolver in his hand. He said, "Sir, have I the honor of addressing the poltroon who edits this mangy sheet?" "You have. Be seated, sir. Be careful of the chair, one of its legs is gone. I believe I have the honor of addressing the putrid liar, Colonel Blatherskite Tecumseh?" "Right, Sir. I have a little account to settle with you. If you are at leisure we will begin."

   1875, Mark Twain, “Journalism in Tennessee”, in Sketches New and Old

   Synonyms: craven, dastard

comparative more poltroon · superlative most poltroon · alternative poltron

1. Cowardly.

   Accordingly, to excuse our deliberate inactivity in the north, we had to make a show of impotence, which gave them to understand that the Arabs were too poltroon to cut the line near Maan and keep it cut.

   1926, T. E. Lawrence, “Chapter 82”, in Seven Pillars of Wisdom