▪ I. † ˈcowardy, n. Obs.
Also -die, -dye, -ty.
[a. OF. couardie (11–12th c. cuardie, coardie), f. couard coward n.; = It. codard{iacu}a: see -y. Other synonyms are cowardice, cowardship, cowardry.]
= cowardice.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce ix. 92 He..Fleis thus for hys cowardy. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1872 No maner man heldn it no cowardye. c 1440 Partonope 1469 Of hys fals cowardy. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) II. 9 The febill cowarty of thair nobillis. 1578 T. N. tr. Conq. W. Ind. (1596) 324 Quahutemoc beganne to reprehend his men for their cowardie and flight. |
▪ II. cowardy, a. colloq.
(ˈkaʊərdɪ)
[f. coward n. + -y1.]
Cowardly. Used tauntingly by children, esp. in the phr. cowardy, cowardy, custard (formerly costard).
| 1836 in A. Nicoll Hist. Early 19th Cent. Drama (1930) II. 436 (title) Cowardy, Cowardy Custard; or, Harlequin Jim Crow and the Magic Mustard-Pot. 1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northampt. Wds. I. 149 Cowardy! cowardy! costard! Repeated by children playing at the game of ‘One catch all’, when they advance towards the one who is selected to catch them, and dare or provoke her to capture them. 1882 ‘F. Anstey’ Vice Versâ ix. 182 Yah, you're afraid!.. I wouldn't be afraid! Cowardy, cowardy, custard! 1911 J. M. Barrie Peter & Wendy ii. 27 Father's a cowardy custard. 1935 G. Greene Basement Room 77 He muttered taunts and encouragements. ‘May as well be hung for a sheep’, ‘Cowardy, cowardy custard’, grown-up and childish exhortations oddly mixed. a 1953 Dylan Thomas Under Milk Wood (1954) 59 Cowardy cowardy custard Give Gwennie a penny. |