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.