Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “poltroonish” come from?

poltroonish (English) comes from English poltroon, from Middle French poltron, from Italian poltrone, from Italian poltro, from Vulgar Latin pulliter, from Latin pullus, from Proto-Indo-European polHwós, from Proto-Indo-European pelH- — pale, gray.

poltroonish (English): Resembling a poltroon; cowardly

Definitions

  1. Resembling a poltroon; cowardly

Ancestry of “poltroonish”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpoltroonAn ignoble or total coward; a dastard; a...
2Middle Frenchpoltroncoward
3Italianpoltronelazy, indolent, sluggish; lazy person, indolent...
4Italianpoltrountamed; indolent, lazy; bed
5Vulgar Latinpulliter—
6LatinpullusA young animal; darling; dark-colored; dusky
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpolHwóspale, gray
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpelH-pale, gray
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH- →