What does poltroonery mean?
Poltroonery is a formal, now rather dated word for cowardice, especially conduct that is contemptibly timid, disloyal, or motivated by self-interest. Its ordinary use implies more than a simple lack of courage: it usually suggests that someone has acted in a way that exposes moral weakness, as when a person abandons others, hides from danger, or uses betrayal to preserve personal advantage. The word appears chiefly in historical writing, political criticism, and literary prose, where its formal sound conveys sharp condemnation. Although modern speakers generally use the more familiar noun cowardice, poltroonery remains useful because it carries a particularly strong, often archaic sense of shameful and dastardly behavior. Its unusual history also reflects the moral judgment embedded in the language: the word ultimately developed from an Italian term associated with laziness and a Latin word meaning thumb.
nounCowardice, especially base or dastardly conduct motivated by fear or opportunism. The word is now chiefly literary and archaic.
- Cowardice, especially contemptible or dastardly conduct motivated by fear or opportunism.
"He was justly accused of poltroonery after abandoning his comrades at the first sign of danger."
"The account of his poltroonery during the siege filled the town with disgust."
"She dismissed the rumor as political poltroonery rather than legitimate criticism."
The plural is rare, reflecting the headword's dated and chiefly literary status.
"The novel presents a catalogue of betrayals and poltrooneries."
Poltroonery has a curious origin in the thumb: its Italian ancestor was associated with someone lazy enough to be turned with a thumb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poltroonery come from?
Poltroonery was formed in the 17th century from poltroon and the suffix -ery. Poltroon came through French from Italian poltrone, a word associated with an idle or worthless person and ultimately connected with Latin pollicem, meaning thumb. The extension from physical laziness to cowardly and worthless behavior occurred as the word developed in French and English.
Related word forms
How poltroonery is actually used
Now dated and chiefly literary, this term is strongly disparaging and normally describes acts perceived as cowardly, disloyal, or opportunistic.
Easily confused with poltroonery
Cowardice is fearfulness or lack of courage generally, whereas poltroonery more specifically denotes cowardly or dastardly conduct.