2. A mean, paltry fellow; a coward. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
coistrel — Coistril Cois tril, n. [Prob. from OF. coustillier groom or lad. Cf. {Custrel}.] 1. An inferior groom or lad employed by an esquire to carry the knight s arms and other necessaries. [Written also {coistrel}.] [1913 Webster] 2. A mean, paltry… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cowardice — (Roget s Thesaurus) >Excess of fear. < N PARAG:Cowardice >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 cowardice cowardice pusillanimity Sgm: N 1 cowardliness cowardliness &c. >Adj. Sgm: N 1 timidity timidity effeminacy GRP: N 2 Sgm: N 2 … English dictionary for students
Coystrel — Coys trel (kois tr[e^]l), n. Same as {Coistril}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Custrel — Cus trel (k[u^]s trel), n. [OF. coustillier. See {Coistril}.] An armor bearer to a knight. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
coistrel — or coistril [kois′trəl] n. [prob. < ME custrel, a soldier (armed with a custille, two edged dagger) < OFr coustellier] Archaic 1. a groom in charge of a knight s horses 2. a knave; varlet; scoundrel … English World dictionary
