POLTROON  , a

coward, a worthless rogue without courage or, spirit . The word comes through Fr. poltron from Ital. poltrone, an idle fellow, one who lolls in a bed or couch (Milanese palter, Venetian poltrona, adapted from Ger . Polster, a pillow; cf . English " bolster ") . The old guess that it was from Lat. pollice truncus, maimed in the thumb, and was first applied to those who avoided military service by self-mutilation, gave rise probably to the French application of poltron to a falcon whose talons were cut to prevent its attacking game .