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Cowardice
Coward redirects here. For other meanings including as a surname, see coward (disambiguation).
Cowardice is the characteristic of submitting to fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. It is viewed as a negative characteristic and is almost generally frowned upon (see Universal norms and norms) within most, if not all global cultures, while courage is generally rewarded and encouraged.

Military Law

Acts of cowardice have long been punishible by military law, and covers a wide range of offenses such as desertion in face of the enemy and surrending to the enemy against orders, the punishment for such acts is typically severe ranging from corporal punishment to the death sentence. "Cowardly conduct is specifically mentioned within the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Etymology

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word "coward" comes from an Old French word coart (modern French couard), a combination of the word for "tail" and an agent noun suffix. It would therefore have meant "one with a tail" — perhaps one in the habit of turning it, or it may be derived from the dog's habit of putting its tail between its legs when it is afraid. It is possible that the English language was enriched in such manner through military contacts with the French, or with the French-influenced Normans that invaded England in 1066.

The English surname Coward (as in Noel Coward), however, has the same origin and meaning as the word "cowherd".

See also

References

External links

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Last updated on Saturday October 11, 2008 at 07:16:21 PDT (GMT -0700)
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Army drops cowardice charge, adds dereliction
Nov 07, 2003; The Army dropped cowardice charges against a Fort Carson soldier Thursday but filed a lesser charge alleging he was derelict in...
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Cowardice case hasn't been tried since Vietnam War
Oct 31, 2003; The last case of cowardice in the military, such as the one filed recently against a Fort Carson soldier, was prosecuted during...
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Hundreds of soldiers shot for 'cowardice' to be pardoned.(HOME)
Aug 16, 2006; Byline: Genevieve Roberts Pte Harry Farr, shot for cowardice during the First World War, is to be granted a pardon posthumously....
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Army drops cowardice charge against GI
Nov 08, 2003; Jeffrey Gettleman International Herald Tribune 11-08-2003 Army officials have dropped cowardice charges against a sergeant who...
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Army dismisses cowardice charge, flies lesser one; Officials say he was unable to perform his duties after seeing a mangled Iraqi body
Nov 07, 2003; FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) - The Army dismissed a cowardice charge and filed a lesser count against an Army interrogator who sought...
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