A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Cowartly, Cowardly, adv. Also: -lie, couart-, kowartlie. [ME. cowardely, cowerdly (14th c.).] In a cowardly manner; with cowardice.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 46.
Then thai withdrew thaim halely: Bot that wes nocht full cowartly Ib. 264.
To dey or to leyff cowartly a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 1041.
Antypater … gert poysone ma, His fadir cowartly for to sla c1420 Wynt. vii. 646.
Cowartly Hys fays turnyd the bak and fled 1456 Hay II. 81/35.
A man that gevis him self up cowartly in the handis of his fais a1500 Doug. K. Hart 152.
It was bot schame to feinȝe cowartlie 1533 Bell. Livy I. 231/1.
The public weill was desertit and cowartlie betrasit a1568 Scott ii. 138.
All the feild cryd fy on him Sa cowartly tuk the fle c1590 Fowler II. 23/34.
He couartlie performit that quhilk with baldnes he promised 1652 Nicoll Diary 79.
The castell … wes kowartlie randerit(b) c1420 Wynt. i. 183.
Cowardly to tak hys dede ?1438 Alex. ii. 1289.
Thay withdrew thame nocht cowardly c1475 Wall. iv. 67.
For cowardly ye lik to tyne your rycht c1515 Asl. MS. I. 219/9.
Archebald of Dunbar tuke the castell of Halis … and syne cowardlie gaf it owr
