white-livered, a.
(-əd)
Having (according to an old notion, still surviving locally) a light-coloured liver, supposed to be due to a deficiency of bile or ‘choler’, and hence of vigour, spirit, or courage; feeble-spirited, cowardly, dastardly.
| 1549 Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1569) F j b, What white lyuered Cities hath not only not withstande them, but also with shame fauoured them. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. ii. 34 For Bardolph, hee is white-liuer'd, and red-fac'd: by the means whereof a' faces it out, but fights not. 1640 Harsnet Gods Summons 154 Assurance of victory puts courage..into the most white-livered, and fearful souldier. 1710 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 21 A white liver'd, sneaking, mean-spirited..Fellow. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop li, A double-faced, white-livered, sneaking spy. 1888 Mrs. H. Ward R. Elsmere xviii, No need to be white-livered, but every need..to take no hasty needless offence. |