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poltroon

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An utter coward, more contemptible than a craven—denoting extreme moral failure in heroic or satirical contexts.

Detailed Definition
“Poltroon” intensifies cowardice with moral condemnation. In heroic poetry, it labels those who betray comrades. The term’s harshness suits invective. Poets use it to explore honor’s demands, where poltroons disrupt unity through fear, reinforcing themes of courage, shame, and collective responsibility in epic and dramatic contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The poltroon fled before the first blow,” in a heroic contrast; In Shakespeare’s Henry V: “Thou damned poltroon!”; “Call him not poltroon who fears wisely,” a nuanced defense; “The poltroon’s tongue was bold, his hand weak”; “Shame on the poltroon who abandons friends”; The poltroon’s shadow shrank from light.
Additional Notes
“Poltroon” intensifies cowardice beyond “craven”; in heroic satire, it brands total moral collapse, often triggering exile or shame, and its Latinate flair makes it a choice insult in elevated diction.
Also Known As
coward craven dastard
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