Poltroon — Pol*troon , 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Poltroon — Pol*troon , a. Base; vile; contemptible; cowardly. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
poltroon — index recreant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
poltroon — (n.) spiritless coward, 1520s, from M.Fr. poultron rascal, coward, from It. poltrone lazy fellow, coward, apparently from *poltro couch, bed (Cf. Milanese polter, Venetian poltrona couch ), perhaps from a Germanic source (Cf. O.H.G. polstar… … Etymology dictionary
poltroon — ► NOUN archaic or literary ▪ an utter coward. ORIGIN Italian poltrone, perhaps from poltro lazy … English terms dictionary
poltroon — [päl tro͞on′] n. [Fr poltron < It poltrone, coward < poltro, colt < VL * pulliter, prob. < pullus, young animal, chick: see POULTRY] a thorough coward; craven adj. cowardly poltroonery [päl tro͞on′ər ē] n … English World dictionary
poltroon — 1. noun /pɒlˈtɹuːn,pɑlˈtɹun/ An ignoble or total coward; a dastard; a mean spirited wretch. To gain life by means of a breach of faith and honour, were indeed to render myself the poltroon, and the villain my accusers believe me. Syn … Wiktionary
poltroon — I. noun Etymology: Middle French poultron, from Old Italian poltrone, probably akin to poltro colt, ultimately from Latin pullus young of an animal more at foal Date: circa 1529 a spiritless coward ; craven II. adjective Date: 1645 characterized… … New Collegiate Dictionary
poltroon — poltroonery, n. poltroonish, adj. poltroonishly, adv. /pol troohn /, n. 1. a wretched coward; craven. adj. 2. marked by utter cowardice. [1520 30; earlier pultrowne, pultron, poultroone < MF poultron < OIt poltrone idler, coward, deriv. of poltro … Universalium
poltroon — Synonyms and related words: arrant coward, base, caitiff, chicken, coward, craven, dastard, dastardly, dunghill, dunghilly, funk, funker, gutless, lily livered, poltroonish, pusillanimous, quitter, recreant, sneak, spunkless, unmanly … Moby Thesaurus
