dastard

American

[das-terd] / ˈdæs tərd /

noun

a mean, sneaking coward.

adjective

of or befitting a dastard; mean, sneaky, and cowardly.

dastard British

/ ˈdæstəd /

noun

archaic a contemptible sneaking coward

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dastard

1400–50; late Middle English < ?.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Claire’s father, based on the real-life dastard Lord Lucan, loved her mother, until he grew tired of her.

From New York Times • Jul. 20, 2018

Due to his efforts the Roman Catholic Church was disestablished in France, and ever since Combes has been a hero to the parties of the Left and to the Clericals a dastard.

From Time Magazine Archive

Popular Poet Martin Farquhar Tupper heard the shocking news and immediately produced a suitable poem: 0 dastard!

From Time Magazine Archive

In mid-honeymoon in New Orleans, America learns the truth about him: Fant is a gambler and a dastard.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hast thou one laudable Alsatian glow To compensate, commensurate, and condign For all these dastard, sleekish qualms of mine?

From The Dreamers A Club by Bangs, John Kendrick

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023