What does Coward mean?
Definitions for Coward
ˈkaʊ ərdcow·ard
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Coward.
Princeton's WordNet
cowardnoun
a person who shows fear or timidity
Coward, Noel Coward, Sir Noel Pierce Cowardnoun
English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973)
Wiktionary
cowardnoun
A person who lacks courage.
cowardadjective
Cowardly.
Etymology: From coart, cuard (> French couard), from coe + -ard; is in turn from cauda. The reference seems to be to an animal “turning tail”, or having its tail between its legs, especially a dog.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
COWARDnoun
Etymology: couard, Fr. of uncertain derivation.
Pyrocles did such wonders, beyond belief, as was able to lead Musidorus to courage, though he had been born a coward. Philip Sidney, b. ii.
There was a soldier that vaunted, before Julius Cæsar, of the hurts he had received in his face. Cæsar knowing him to be but a coward, told him, You were best take heed, next time you run away, how you look back Francis Bacon, Apophth. 188.
Some are brave one day, and cowards another, as great captains have often told me, from their own experience and observation. William Temple.
A coward does not always escape with disgrace, but sometimes also he loses his life. South.
What can ennoble sots, and slaves, and cowards?
Alas! not all the blood of all the Howards. Alexander Pope.Tremble ye not, Oh friends! and cowards fly,
Doom’d by the stern Telemachus to die! Alexander Pope, Odyssey.Having more man than wit about me, I drew;
And rais’d the house with loud and coward cries William Shakespeare.Invading fears repel my coward joy,
And ills foreseen the present bliss destroy. Matthew Prior.
Wikipedia
coward
Cowardice is a trait wherein excessive fear prevents an individual from taking a risk or facing danger. It is the opposite of courage. As a label, "cowardice" indicates a failure of character in the face of a challenge. One who succumbs to cowardice is known as a coward.As the opposite of bravery, which many historical and current human societies reward, cowardice is seen as a character flaw that is detrimental to society and thus the failure to face one's fear is often stigmatized and/or punished.
ChatGPT
coward
A coward is a person who lacks the courage to confront fear, danger, or pain, and avoids difficult or challenging situations. They typically display a lack of bravery or courage in situations that require these attributes, and often choose personal safety or comfort over confronting difficulties or standing up for their values or beliefs.
Webster Dictionary
Cowardadjective
borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion
Cowardadjective
destitute of courage; timid; cowardly
Cowardadjective
belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity
Cowardnoun
a person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon
Cowardverb
to make timorous; to frighten
Etymology: [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.]
Wikidata
Coward
Coward is a town in Florence County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 650 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Coward
kow′ard, n. a faint-hearted person: one without courage.—v.t. to intimidate.—adjs. Cow′ard, Cow′ardly, afraid of danger: timid: mean.—ns. Cow′ardice, want of courage: timidity.—Cow′ardree (Spens.); Cow′ardliness.—adv. Cow′ardly.—n. Cow′ardship (Shak.), the quality of being a coward. [O. Fr. couard (It. codardo)—L. cauda, a tail.]
Suggested Resources
coward
Song lyrics by coward -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by coward on the Lyrics.com website.
Surnames Frequency by Census Records
COWARD
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Coward is ranked #6012 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
The Coward surname appeared 5,720 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 would have the surname Coward.
59.6% or 3,411 total occurrences were White.
34% or 1,948 total occurrences were Black.
3.1% or 181 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
2.2% or 127 total occurrences were of two or more races.
0.5% or 34 total occurrences were Asian.
0.3% or 19 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of Coward in Chaldean Numerology is: 5
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of Coward in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of Coward in a Sentence
We all know of the terrible, thoughtless, ignorant act that someone perpetrated in this city yesterday, we will, of course, at some point in time find the coward.
A coward's gun is emptied when fear pulls the trigger, and hate is the ammunition of choice.”
I don't want him to see that I stood here like a coward, i did what I did and I did what I did for my baby, period. He's going to see me standing up, taking my responsibility.
When coward individuals are not able to attack the message, they attack the messenger.
A real man will be honest no matter how painful the truth is. A coward hides behind lies and deceit.
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References
Translations for Coward
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
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"Coward." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 18 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Coward>.
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