Dastardly
/ˈdæs.tərd.li/noun
Characterized by cowardly, mean, or malicious behavior.
Did you know?The base word *dastard* is an old English insult for a coward, and its exact origin is uncertain, which only makes its long history of moral contempt feel even darker.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
dastard
“a coward; a craven person”
14th Century
English
dastardly
“cowardly; mean-spirited”
Old French
OF
dastard
“coward (probable influence, uncertain)”
Modern English
English
dastardly
“wicked in a cowardly way”