Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COW'ARD, n. [Fr. couard; Arm. couhard; Sp. and Port. cobarde. The original French orthography was culvert, and it has been supposed to be from culum vertere, to turn the tail. This suggestion receives countenance from the corresponding word in Italian, codardo, codardia, which would seem to be from coda, the tail; and it derives confirmation from the use of the word in heraldry. In Welsh, it is caçan, caçgi, from the same root as L. caco.]

1. A person who wants courage to meet danger; a poltroon; a timid or pusillanimous man. A coward does not always escape with disgrace, but sometimes loses his life. – South.
2. In heraldry, a term given to a lion borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs. – Encyc.