Das"tard (?), 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.
You are all recreants and dashtards, and
delight to live in slavery to the nobility.
Shak.Das"tard, a. Meanly shrinking from
danger; cowardly; dastardly. "Their dastard souls."
Addison.
Das"tard, v. t. To
dastardize. [R.] Dryden.