\Das"tard\, n. [Prob. from Icel. d[ae]str exhausted.
breathless, p. p. of d[ae]sa to groan, lose one's breath; cf.
dasask to become exhausted, and E. daze.]
One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a
poltroon.
      You are all recreants and dashtards, and delight to
      live in slavery to the nobility.         --Shak.

\Das"tard\, a.
Meanly shrinking from danger; cowardly; dastardly. ``Their
dastard souls.'' --Addison.

\Das"tard\, v. t.
To dastardize. [R.] --Dryden.