faint-heartn.adj.
/ˈfeɪnthɑːt/, U.S. /ˈfeɪntˌhɑrt/ A. n.† 1. The fact or condition of having a faint heart; want of spirit. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [noun] > half-heartedness
faintness1398
faint-heart1580
faint-heartedness1580
halving1613
zeallessness1667
half-heartedness1670
1580 T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (1676) 760 They [men]..through faint-heart, and lack of courage, do change their first mind.
2. One who has a faint heart; a coward.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [noun] > coward(s)
coward?a1289
hen-hearta1450
staniel?a1500
pigeon?1571
cow1581
quake-breech1584
cow-baby1594
custard1598
chicken heart1602
nidget1605
hen?1613
faintling1614
white-liver1614
chickena1616
quake-buttocka1627
skitterbrooka1652
dunghill1761
cow-heart1768
shy-cock1768
fugie1777
slag1788
man of chaff1799
fainter1826
possum1833
cowardy, cowardy, custard1836
sheep1840
white feather1857
funk1859
funkstick1860
lily-liver1860
faint-heart1870
willy boy1895
blert1905
squib1908
fraid cat (also fraidy cat)c1910–23
manso1912
feartie1923
yellowbelly1927
chicken liver1930
boneless wonder1931
scaredy-cat1933
sook1933
pantywaist1935
punk1939
ringtail1941
chickenshit1945
candy-ass1953
pansy-ass1963
unbrave1981
bottler1994
1870 Daily News 16 Nov. ‘You are all fainthearts, not Frenchmen.’
B. adj.
Faint-hearted, timid, spiritless, cowardly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective]
arghc885
heartlessOE
bloodlessc1225
coward1297
faintc1300
nesha1382
comfortless1387
pusillanimousa1425
faint-heartedc1440
unheartyc1440
cowardous1480
hen-hearteda1529
cowardish1530
feigningc1540
white-livered1546
cowardly1551
faceless1567
pusillanime1570
liver-hearted1571
cowish1579
cowardise1582
coward-like1587
faint-heart1590
courageless1593
sheep-like1596
white-hearted1598
milky1602
milk-livered1608
undaring1611
lily-livereda1616
yarrow1616
flightful1626
chicken-hearted1629
poltroon1649
cow-hearted1660
whey-blooded1675
unbravea1681
nimble-heeled1719
dunghill1775
shrimp-hearted1796
chicken-livered1804
white-feathered1816
pluckless1821
chicken-spirited1822
milk-blooded1822
cowardy1836
yellow1856
yellow-livered1857
putty-hearted1872
uncourageous1878
chicken1883
piker1901
yellow-bellied1907
manso1932
scaredy-cat1933
chickenshit1940
cold-footed1944
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. H4v That Coward, faintheart, runaway.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. x. sig. I8 Cowards..And faint-heart -fooles. View more context for this quotation
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. III 501 O faint-heart thief of love.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1580