coward (English)

Where does "coward" come from?

The English noun 'coward' comes from Middle English 'coward'[1][2], which was borrowed from Old French 'coart'[1][2]. The Old French term combined 'coue' meaning 'tail' with the pejorative suffix '-ard'[1][5]. This root noun 'coue' traces back to the Latin word 'cauda' meaning 'tail'[1], likely alluding to an animal turning its tail or holding it between its legs[1]. This term eventually displaced the native Old English word 'earg'[1].

Open questions

• The etymological reference is uncertainly linked to an animal turning its tail or putting its tail between its legs. [1]

Full etymology tree

• coward (English), 'A person who lacks courage.'
  • inherited coward (Middle English), 'coward, knave'
    • borrowed coart (Old French), 'a coward'
      • affix coue (Old French), 'alternative form of choe (“jackdaw”)'
        • derived cauda (Latin), 'tail (animal appendage)'
          • inherited *kaudā (Proto-Italic), 'tail'
            • derived *keh₂u-d-eh₂ (Proto-Indo-European)
              • derived *keh₂w- (Proto-Indo-European)
      • suffix -ard (Old French)

Ancestors

• coward (Middle English)
• coart (Old French)
• cauda (Latin)

Cognates and doublets

• couard (French)

Descendants and derived words

• cowardess (English)
• cowardice (English)
• cowardish (English)
• cowardize (English)
• cowardize (English)
• cowardly (English)
• cowardly (English)
• cowardness (English)
• cowardry (English)
• cowardship (English)
• cowardy (English)
• God hates a coward (English)

Related words

• courage (English)
• hero (English)

Sources

1. coward (English) - Wiktionary
2. coward (Middle English) - Wiktionary
3. cauda (Latin) - Wiktionary
4. kaudā (Proto-Italic) - Wiktionary
5. cuard (Old French) - Wiktionary

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris