Poltroon

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /pɒlˈtɹuːn/

Definitions

1. A cowardly person who lacks courage and refuses to face danger or difficulty
2. a person of contemptible cowardice who shrinks from any confrontation or peril
3. someone displaying shameful lack of bravery and unwilling to meet challenges head-on

Etymology: Medieval Italian gave English this word, and its origin is tied to a sense of laziness rather than cowardice. Italian "poltrone" is a noun-turned-adjective built on "poltro," an idea of bed-rest and idleness, so the original picture was of someone who stays in bed rather than facing danger. The word passed into French as "poltron," and from there into English. The shift from idleness to cowardice is the centrepiece here. Someone who shirks work and lounges about is not yet a coward, but the step from "unwilling to exert yourself" to "unwilling to face a fight" is short, and the word took it. Today the sense is almost entirely about lacking nerve, with the idle origin largely forgotten.

Synonyms: coward, craven, weakling, timid person

Antonyms: hero, brave, courageous person