poltroon, n. [F. poltron, from It. poltrone an idle fellow, sluggard, coward, poltro idle, lazy, also, bed, fr. OHG. polstar, bolstar, cushion, G. polster, akin to E. bolster. See Bolster.].

An arrant coward; a dastard; a craven; a mean-spirited wretch. Shak. [1913 Webster]

poltroon, a.

Base; vile; contemptible; cowardly. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

poltroon, n. a spiritless coward.

Derivative

poltroonery n.

Etymology

F poltron f. It. poltrone perh. f. poltro sluggard

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THESAURUS

poltroon

arrant coward, base, caitiff, chicken, coward, craven, dastard, dastardly, dunghill, dunghilly, funk, funker, gutless, lily-livered, poltroonish, pusillanimous, quitter, recreant, sneak, spunkless, unmanly

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ROGET THESAURUS

poltroon

Cowardice

N cowardice, pusillanimity, cowardliness, timidity, effeminacy, poltroonery, baseness, dastardness, dastardy, abject fear, funk, Dutch courage, fear, white feather, faint heart, cold feet, yellow streak, coward, poltroon, dastard, sneak, recreant, shy cock, dunghill cock, coistril, milksop, white liver, lily liver, nidget, one that cannot say 'boo' to a goose, slink, Bob Acres, Jerry Sneak, alarmist, terrorist, pessimist, runagate, coward, cowardly, fearful, shy, timid, timorous, skittish, poor- spirited, spiritless, soft, effeminate, weak-minded, infirm of purpose, weak-hearted, fainthearted, chickenhearted, henhearted, lilyhearted, pigeon-hearted, white- livered, lily-livered, milk-livered, milksop, smock-faced, unable to say 'boo' to a goose, dastard, dastardly, base, craven, sneaking, dunghill, recreant, unwarlike, unsoldier-like, in face a lion but in heart a deer, unmanned, frightened, Int, sauve qui peut!, every man for himself!, devil take the hindmost!, ante tubam trepidat, one's courage oozing out, degeneres animos timor arguit.

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