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

We’ve been remarking on the tendency of powerful institutions to act like poltroons when confronted by bullies.

From Los Angeles Times

What a miserable little poltroon had fear, engendered of unjust punishment, made of me in those days!

From Literature

“Complete and total catastrophe” sounds about right for such a conflagration of poltroons as that.

From Fox News

“Doesn’t involve destruction? That’s like me asking you not to be a mealy-mouthed poltroon.”

From Literature

The NRA continues to be a sad bunch of poltroons hiding behind the 2nd Amendment.

From New York Times