Cowardly
来自Big Physics
Middle English: from Old French couard, based on Latin cauda ‘tail’, possibly with reference to a frightened animal with its tail between its legs, reflected in coward (sense 2 of the adjective) (early 16th century).
wiktionary
From Middle English *cowardly(adjective) and cowardly(adverb), equivalent to coward + -ly. Displaced native Old English earg.
etymonline
cowardly (adj.)
"wanting courage to face danger or endure harm or pain," 1550s, from coward + -ly (1). The adverb (late 14c., from -ly (2)) is older than the adjective:
Yit had I levir do what I may Than here to dye thus cowerdelye ["Le Morte d'Arthur," c. 1450]
An Old English word for "cowardly" was earg, which also meant "slothful." Related: Cowardliness.
