dastard

[ das-terd ]

noun

1. a mean, sneaking coward.

adjective

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

dastard

/ ˈdæstəd /

noun

1. archaic.
   a contemptible sneaking coward

Word History and Origins

Origin of dastard¹

1400–50; late Middle English < ?.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dastard¹

C15 (in the sense: dullard): probably from Old Norse dæstr exhausted, out of breath

Example Sentences

Her father spends the movie in white, 25-piece suits and a dastard’s dark mustache, like he’s starring in the first half of “The Colonel Sanders Story.”

From New York Times

There’s villainy afoot, with a white-suited dastard scheming to lure you into a deadly trap back in the bush.

From Seattle Times

Theatergoers have reason to be amused: It seems that everyone but Othello is able to see through the obvious manipulations of this shameless dastard.

From Los Angeles Times

But they will never dare—the dastards, No!—

From Project Gutenberg

She will say that necessity knows no law, or some such dastard words.

From Project Gutenberg