Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Coward \Cow"ard\ (kou"?rd), a. [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and
   adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L.
   coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as
   an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared
   dog. Cf. {Cue}, {Queue}, {Caudal}.]
   1. (Her.) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled
      between his legs; -- said of a lion.

   2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.

            Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. --Shak.

   3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of,
      base fear or timidity.

            He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
                                                  --Shak.

            Invading fears repel my coward joy.   --Proir.

Coward \Cow"ard\, n.
   A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person;
   a poltroon.

         A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse.  --Dryden.

   Syn: Craven; poltroon; dastard.

Coward \Cow"ard\, v. t.
   To make timorous; to frighten. [Obs.]

         That which cowardeth a man's heart.      --Foxe.

Source : WordNet®

coward
     n 1: a person who shows fear or timidity
     2: English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty
        and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973) [syn: {Noel Coward},
         {Sir Noel Pierce Coward}]