coward

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. One who lacks courage to meet danger; one who shrinks from exposure to possible harm of any kind; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon; a craven.
2. n. In heraldry, an animal represented with the tail hanging down, or turned up between the legs, as a lion or other beast of prey. Also coué. Synonyms Coward, Poltroon, Craven, Dastard, Pusillanimous (person) express an ignoble quality of fear, or fear showing itself in dishonorable ways. Coward is the general word, covering the others, is most often used, and is least opprobrious. Poltroon, craven, and dastard are highly energetic words, used only in the effort to make a person's cowardice seem contemptible. The distinction between them is not clearly marked. A poltroon has somewhat more of the mean-spirited and contemptible in his character; a craven skulks away, accepts any means of escape, however dishonorable, from a dangerous position, duty, etc.; a dastard is base, and therefore despicable, in his cowardice. Dastard is the strongest of these words. A pusillanimous person is, literally, one of little courage; his cowardice is only the most conspicuous part of a general lack of force in mind and character, making him spiritless and contemptible.
3. Lacking courage; timid; timorous; fearful; craven: as, a coward wretch.
4. Of or pertaining to a coward; proceeding from or expressive of fear or timidity: as, a coward cry; coward tremors.
5. To make afraid.

Wiktionary

1. n. A person who lacks courage.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion.
2. adj. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.
3. adj. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base fear or timidity.
4. n. A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a poltroon.
5. v. To make timorous; to frighten.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a person who shows fear or timidity
2. n. English dramatist and actor and composer noted for his witty and sophisticated comedies (1899-1973)