noun

poltroon

pahl-TROON/pɑːlˈtruːn/

A person despised for being cowardly.

The guard acts like a poltroon by hiding behind the civilian.

A uniformed security guard cowers behind an older civilian, clutching his shoulders and using him as a shield while he must face a lunging dog with his walking stick.

Etymology

Italian poltrone meant both “lazy fellow” and “coward.” English preserves the cowardly side of that meaning, expressing contempt for someone who fails to show courage.

In context

Ion Books224:02

Then Lizzie looked at him,--and her look, which was very eloquent, called him a poltroon as plain as a look could speak.

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope - Part 1/3 | Full Audiobook with Scrolling Text

More examples

Only a poltroon would let someone else take the blame.
The captain refuses to be remembered as a poltroon.
She dismisses the men who fled as a pack of poltroons.

Forms

poltroon · poltroons

Similar words

coward: Names someone lacking courage, without necessarily expressing equal contempt.
wimp: Informally suggests weakness or timidity rather than outright cowardice.