niddering

American  

[nid-er-ing] / ˈnɪd ər ɪŋ /

noun

Archaic.

1. a coward.

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niddering British  

/ ˈnɪdərɪŋ /

noun

1. a coward

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adjective

1. cowardly

Etymology

Origin of niddering

First recorded in 1590–1600; variant of nidering, which is a variant of niding, from nithing, from Old Norse nídhingr “villain, scoundrel, apostate.” The form niddering arose from a misreading of the letter ð (pronounced eth or edh, representing the th- sounds of thin and then ) as an abbreviation for der

Example Sentences

Thou hast called me pestilent, niddering,   And weakling: yet I boast me better far   Than thou in wit and speech, which things increase   The strength of men.

From The Fall of Troy by Way, Arthur Sanders

Atli was deceived by her, and not until I had cut him down in anger at the bitter words he spoke, calling me coward and niddering, did he know the truth.

From Eric Brighteyes by Haggard, Henry Rider

Let every man that is not niddering, whether in a town or out of a town, leave his house and come.”

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster

A niddering who flies for his life at the first approach of danger is not fit to wield a sceptre in these lands.

From The Last of the Vikings by Bowling, John

Should we be vile and niddering enough to gain no honour on the field, very surely we shall receive yet more shame as our portion when we come into his presence.

From Arthurian Chronicles: Roman de Brut by Mason, Eugene