COWARD

coward, a term of contempt for one who, before danger, pain or trouble, shows fear, whether physical or moral. the derivation of the word has been obscured by a connexion in sense with the verb "cow," to instil fear into, which is derived from old norse _kuga_, a word of similar meaning, and with the verb "cower," to crouch, which is also scandinavian in origin.[1] the true derivation is from the french _coe_, an old form of _queue_, a tail, from lat. _cauda_, hence _couart_ or _couard_. the reference to "tail" is either to the expression "turn tail" in flight, or to the habit of animals dropping the tail between the legs when frightened; in heraldry, a lion in this position is a "lion coward." in the fable of _reynard the fox_ the name of the hare is coart, kywart, cuwaert or other variants.