poltroon

American  

[pol-troon] / pɒlˈtrun /

noun

1. a wretched coward; craven.

   Synonyms:

   dastard

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adjective

1. marked by utter cowardice.

poltroon British  

/ pɒlˈtruːn /

noun

1. an abject or contemptible coward

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adjective

1. a rare word for cowardly

Other Word Forms

• poltroonery noun
• poltroonish adjective
• poltroonishly adverb

Etymology

Origin of poltroon

1520–30; earlier pultrowne, pultron, poultroone < Middle French poultron < Old Italian poltrone idler, coward, derivative of poltro foal < Vulgar Latin *pulliter, derivative of Latin pullus young animal; foal

Explanation

A poltroon is a coward. Poltroons have a lack of courage and fortitude. Poltroon is an old-fashioned word for a type of person that exists in every time period: a coward. If you behave in a way that shows no courage or confidence, you're acting like a poltroon. In movies, the villains are often poltroons who are sneaky and devious instead of brave and straightforward. A hero is the opposite of a poltroon. Poltroons can be described as craven and abject, but most of all, cowardly.

Example Sentences

Apparently not to be confused or conflated with poltroon...

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2018

A poltroon was not a good thing to be called.

From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2017

There’s a chance that your antagonist will post the news that you are a poltroon and, whoops, there go all your dinner-party invitations.

From Slate • Mar. 26, 2014

Maxwell is a goon, a berk, a gurgling bore, a ham-eyed poltroon and a great big swaggering chump.

From The Guardian • Aug. 20, 2010

“I think it’s a kind of mushroom,” said Lazlo, who knew very well what poltroon meant.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor