Lacking courage or bravery; unwilling to face challenges or do something difficult.
Combines 'gut' (from Old English 'guttas' meaning intestines) with the suffix '-less' meaning without. In the 1800s, 'guts' became slang for courage because brave people were thought to have inner strength in their core.
Ancient people actually believed courage lived in your stomach and intestines—that's why we still say 'gutsy' for brave and 'gutless' for cowardly! Your language carries the medical beliefs of medieval times.
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