poltroon

[ pol-troon ]

noun

1. a wretched coward; craven.

   Synonyms: dastard

adjective

1. marked by utter cowardice.

poltroon

/ pɒlˈtruːn /

noun

1. an abject or contemptible coward

adjective

1. a rare word for cowardly

Other Words From

• pol·trooner·y noun
• pol·troonish adjective
• pol·troonish·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of poltroon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of poltroon¹

C16: from Old French poultron, from Old Italian poltrone lazy good-for-nothing, apparently from poltrīre to lie indolently in bed, from poltro bed

Example Sentences

Joe tried to grab him with the boathook, but it was useless, and the unhappy poltroon's body was whirled away.

From Project Gutenberg

"Then you have been playing the poltroon," he says savagely.

From Project Gutenberg

He insulted you, and then he behaved like a poltroon down at Silverbridge, and I will not have you know him any more.

From Project Gutenberg

But I can't consent to pass for a fool; and still more not for a poltroon—You'll excuse the little hint.'

From Project Gutenberg

My error—and I 'll not forgive myself in haste for it—was the belief that an upstart need not of necessity be a poltroon.

From Project Gutenberg