Cowardice (redirected from cowardliness)

Cowardice

See also Boastfulness, Timidity.

Acres, Bob

a swaggerer lacking in courage. [Br. Lit.: The Rivals]

Bobadill, Captain

vainglorious braggart, vaunts achievements while rationalizing faintheartedness. [Br. Lit.: Every Man in His Humour]

chicken

slang insult used toward the timid. [Western Folklore: Jobes, 322]

Conachar

pathetically lacks courage. [Br. Lit.: The Fair Maid of Perth]

Coup de Jarnac

to hit a man while he is down. [Fr. Folklore: Espy, 62]

Cowardly Lion

king of the forest has yellow streak up back. [Am. Lit.: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]

Duke of Plaza-Toro

always leads the retreat and is the first to hide from the enemy. [Br. Opera: Gilbert and Sullivan The Gondoliers]

Falstaff, Sir John

“the better part of valor is discretion.” [Br. Lit.: I Henry IV]

Fleming, Henry

young recruit, in his first battle, runs away in terror. [Am. Lit.: Stephen Crane The Red Badge of Courage]

Indiana Volunteers

during Mexican war, ran when action began. [Am. Hist.: Espy, 183]

Martano

poltroon claiming credit for another’s feat. [Ital. Lit.: Orlando Furioso]

Panurge

rogue who in several adventures proves to be a great coward. [Fr. Lit.: Rabelais Gargantua and Pantagruel]

Panza, Sancho

always removes himself a safe distance from his master’s combats. [Span. Lit.: Cervantes Don Quixote]

Police, the

homeloving and fearful of death, reluctant to combat the pirate band. [Br. Opera: Gilbert and Sullivan The Pirates of Penzance]

Rogue’s March

played in British Army to expel dishonored soldier. [Br. Music: Scholes, 885]

Roister Doister, Ralph

foolish suitor repulsed by widow with household utensil. [Br. Lit.: Ralph Roister Doister]

Scaramouche

stock character in commedia dell’arte; boastful poltroon. [Ital. Drama: Brewer Dictionary, 967]

yellow

color symbolizing cowardice. [Western Culture: Misc.]