poltroon
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1pol·troon

noun \päl-ˈtrün\

Definition of POLTROON

: a spiritless coward : craven

Examples of POLTROON

  1. <those poltroons in the state legislature who have caved in to bigotry on this important issue of basic civil rights>

Origin of POLTROON

Middle French poultron, from Old Italian poltrone, probably akin to poltro colt, ultimately from Latin pullus young of an animal — more at foal
First Known Use: circa 1529

2poltroon

adjective

Definition of POLTROON

: characterized by complete cowardice

Examples of POLTROON

  1. <a military commander who was so poltroon that he surrendered without having fired so much as a single shot>

First Known Use of POLTROON

1645

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