Definition of cowardly

cowardlyadjective

hèn nhát

/ˈkaʊədli//ˈkaʊərdli/

The word "cowardly" traces its roots back to the Old French word "couard," meaning "tail-less." In medieval times, a "coward" was believed to be a chicken, which was considered a "tail-less" bird due to its small tail feathers. This association with a "cowardly" chicken was then extended to describe a person who lacked courage or was easily frightened. Over time, the original meaning of "tail-less" became obscured, but the association with fear and lack of bravery has remained, giving us the word "cowardly" as we know it today.

namespace

not brave; not having the courage to do things that other people do not think are especially difficult

không dũng cảm; không có đủ can đảm để làm những việc mà người khác cho là đặc biệt khó khăn

Example:
  • the actions of a weak and cowardly man

    hành động của một người đàn ông yếu đuối và hèn nhát

carried out against a person who is unable to fight back

thực hiện chống lại một người không thể chống trả

Example:
  • a cowardly attack on a defenceless man

    một cuộc tấn công hèn nhát vào một người đàn ông không có khả năng tự vệ

Related words and phrases