noun
cowardice
KOW-er-dis/ˈkaʊərdɪs/
Lack of courage when facing danger or difficulty.
The story portrays his refusal to face danger as cowardice.
Etymology
The “tail” root probably evokes an animal turning tail or holding its tail between its legs. With a derogatory person-ending it named someone lacking courage; the final suffix names that person's quality.
In context
The collapse is entirely due to the moral cowardice and treason of certain units who shamefully surrendered to the enemy without fighting.