dastard

noun /ˈdɑːstəd/

1. A malicious coward; a dishonorable sneak.

   I thought ye would never have given out these arms till you had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility.

Where it comes from

From Middle English dastard (“a dullard”), most likely formed from *dast, a base derived from Old Norse dæstr (“exhausted, breathless”) + -ard. Compare Icelandic dasaður (“exhausted”), dialectal Swedish däst (“weary”), Middle Dutch dasaert, daasaardt (“a fool”), English dazed (“stupefied”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry dastard (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← darumadasturi →

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