POLTROON

PRONUNCIATION: (pol-TROON)

MEANING: noun: An utter coward.

ETYMOLOGY: From French poltron (coward), from Italian poltrone (lazy person), from Latin pullus (young animal). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pau- (few, little), which is also the source of few, foal, filly, pony, poor, pauper, poco, and catchpole. Earliest documented use: 1529.

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POLTOON - a political cartoon, like Doonesbury

POLTROOP - bussed-in voters

POLTRODON - a small dinosaur with teeth like a chicken's