Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Cowardy, Cowarty, n. Also: cowerte. [ME. cowardye (Chaucer), OF. couardie.] Cowardice.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 26.
Thai suld weill hawe prys, That … war woydyt off cowardy Ib. ix. 747 (E).
Ye suld pres to derenyhe your rycht, And nocht with cowardy, na with slycht ?1438 Alex. ii. 596.
Thow hursone full of cowardy [F. couardie] Ib. 1956.
Couth ȝe haue delt with cowardy, This day had na man takin ȝow 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 83.
My fader … nevir apon that ways Instrukkit me, nor tawcht sik cowardy 1531 Bell. Boece II. 71.
Nocht remanis bot to devoid al schameful cowardy(b) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 9.
The febill cowarty of thair nobillis Id. Livy I. 207/7.
Ane new remede … to covir thare febill cowarty Ib. 239/4.
The consul reprochit thame … of thare cowarty [v.r. cowerte]