1. a coward; a person who lacks courage
Usage: archaic; literary

Examples

• The knight called his opponent a poltroon for refusing to fight.
• He was branded a poltroon after fleeing from battle.
• The villain in the story was portrayed as a scheming poltroon.
• She refused to be called a poltroon despite her fears.
• The old tale spoke of a poltroon who found his courage.
• His enemies dismissed him as nothing more than a poltroon.