a. Having (according to an old notion, still surviving locally) a light-colored liver, supposed to be due to a deficiency of bile or ‘choler,’ and hence of vigor, spirit or courage; feeble-spirited, cowardly, dastardly.
1549. Cheke, Hurt Sedit. (1569), F j b. What white lyuered Cities hath not only not withstande them, but also with shame fauoured them.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., III. ii. 34. For Bardolph, hee is white-liuer’d, and red-fac’d: by the means whereof a’ faces it out, but fights not.
1640. Harsnet, Gods Summons, 154. Assurance of victory puts courage … into the most white-livered, and fearful souldier.
1710. Hearne, Collect. (O. H. S.), III. 21. A white liver’d, sneaking, mean-spirited … Fellow.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, li. A double-faced, white-livered, sneaking spy.
1888. Mrs. H. Ward, Robt. Elsmere, xviii. No need to be white-livered, but every need … to take no hasty needless offence.
