n. [ Prob. from Icel. dæstr exhausted. breathless, p. p. of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath; cf. dasask to become exhausted, and E. daze. ] One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a poltroon. [ 1913 Webster ]
You are all recreants and dashtards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Meanly shrinking from danger; cowardly; dastardly. “Their dastard souls.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To dastardize. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. The quality of being dastardly; cowardice; base fear. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Meanly timid; cowardly; base;
n. Dastardliness. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Base timidity; cowardliness. [ 1913 Webster ]