poltard /ˈpoʊltɑ
rd/
Noun (Plural: poltards)
An abject, spiritless
coward who relies on malicious trickery or ambush tactics to harm the defenseless, but immediately folds into groveling submission when confronted with actual resistance.
Etymology
A blend (portmanteau) of two archaic English nouns fused with a derogatory suffix:
- Poltroon: A contemptible, thoroughly
lazy coward who flees from responsibility, duty, or any semblance of danger.
- Dastard: An underhanded, malicious coward who specifically targets the vulnerable while avoiding fair combat.
- Suffix (-ard): A traditional Germanic and Old
French suffix used to form nouns denoting a person who performs a specific action to an excessive or shameful degree (e.g., coward, laggard, dotard, sluggard).
Derivative Forms
- poltardly (Adjective): Possessing the traits of a poltard; weak, sneaky, and
pathetic.
- poltardry (Noun): Actively malicious cowardice; the practice of targeting the defenseless out of fear of an equal opponent.
Synonyms
Archaic: Craven, dastard, poltroon, scullion, nithing.
Modern Parallel: Parasite,
degenerate,
cretin.
