Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cowardis(e, Cowartis, n. Also: cowardice, kowardys, couuardeis; cowartys, -yce. [ME. cowardyse, -ise, -ys (c 1300), OF. couardise.] Cowardice.(a) 1375 Barb. vi. 338.
Fule-hardyment the formast is, And the tothir is cowardis 1456 Hay I. 87/8.
Outhir mon he be manesuorne or tyne his awin heretage throu his cowardis 1513 Doug. iv. i. 28.
Dreid … and schaymful kowardys [Sm. cowardice] Ib. xi. xiv. 21.
Huge dolfnes and schamful cowardice 1549 Compl. 15/3.
He persauit neuyr the trason of ane party, nor the couuardeis of ane vthir party c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 479.
Thairfoir I say thow carpis of cowardise(b) c1475 Wall. vi. 31.
Sall neuir man this cowartys in me se a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 489.
Syn is the caus of spirituale cowartys 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 69.
Sum part … for schaymfull cowartyce Clam vp agane … And hyd thame