or POLTRON, a coward or dastard, wanting courage to perform anything great or noble. The word is borrowed from the French, who according to Salmasius, derive it a police trunco; because anciently those who would avoid going to the wars cut off their thumb. But Menage, with more probability, derives it from the Italian poltrone, and that from poltro a "bed;" because timorous, pusillanimous people take pleasure in lying a-bed. Others choose to derive the word from the Italian poltro a "colt;" because of that creature's readiness to run away.