dastard

Word origin

From Middle English dastard (“a dullard”), most likely formed from *dast, a base derived from Old Norse dæstr (“exhausted, breathless”) + -ard. Compare Icelandic dasaður (“exhausted”), dialectal Swedish däst (“weary”), Middle Dutch dasaert, daasaardt (“a fool”), English dazed (“stupefied”).

Used in a sentence

• “I thought ye would never have given out these arms till you had recovered your ancient freedom: but you are all recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery to the nobility.”

• “Now dragg'd once more beyond the western main, To groan beneath some dastard planter’s chain; Where my poor countrymen in bondage wait The long enfranchisement of ling’ring fate:”

Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0