coward

/ˈkaʊəd/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: cowards

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person who lacks courage.

Noun

Examples

Near-synonyms: big baby, baby

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Cowardly.

Adjective

Examples

It is a coward and servile humour, for a man to disguise and hide himselfe under a maske, and not dare to shew himselfe as he is.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “coward” mean?

A person who lacks courage.

Is “coward” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.