\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.

\Cow"ard\, n.
A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person;
a poltroon.
      A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse.  --Dryden.
Syn: Craven; poltroon; dastard.

\Cow"ard\, v. t.
To make timorous; to frighten. [Obs.]
      That which cowardeth a man's heart.      --Foxe.