dastard Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a despicable coward
  2. adjective satellite despicably cowardly
    dastardly.
    • the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on...December 7th"- F.D. Roosevelt

WordNet

Das"tard noun
Etymology
Prob. from Icel. dæstr exhausted. breathless, p. p. of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath; cf. dasask to become exhausted, and E. daze.
Definitions
  1. One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a poltroon.
    You are all recreants and dashtards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Shak.
Das"tard adjective
Definitions
  1. Meanly shrinking from danger; cowardly; dastardly. "Their dastard souls." Addison.
Das"tard transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To dastardize. R. Dryden.

Webster 1913