dastard
[noun]
Synonyms: coward, chicken, craven, funk, funker, poltroon, quitter, yellowbelly

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

dastard noun, adjective, & verb. ['dastǝd, 'dɑ:-] LME.
[Prob. from dazed pa. pple & ppl adjective of DAZE verb + -ARD, infl. by DOTARD noun¹ & adjective¹.]
A. noun.
1. A dullard; a stupid person. LME-M16.

2. A mean, base, or despicable coward, esp. one who does malicious acts in a skulking way. L15.
b. adjective. = DASTARDLY. L15.
C. verb trans. = dastardize. L16-M17.

■ dastardice noun = dastardy L16-M18.

■ dastardize verb trans. (now rare) make a dastard of, cow M17.

■ dastardy noun (arch.) base or mean cowardice, dastardliness L16.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲