An archaic or dialectal term, possibly referring to a type of coward or contemptible person.
Etymology uncertain; possibly a blend of 'cay' (obsolete dialectal word) and '-nard' (a derogatory suffix), or potentially from Old French sources. The word appears in very old texts but its exact origin is disputed among etymologists.
This word is so old and obscure that even major dictionaries aren't sure what it originally meant—it's like finding a fossil where the fossil itself is fragmented!
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