Search results
Yellow bile. Courage was linked to a sanguine humour, which corresponded to a healthy, red liver. Thus, a pale liver was metaphorically linked to a lack of courage. The Shakespeare Connection. In Act V, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth refers to one of his pages as a “lily-livered boy.”
We might think there’s a double-entendre in prick your face (there isn’t) and completely miss the actual insult: lily-livered. Lily-livered means “cowardly,” and it has its origins in medieval physiology.
Anyone who was choleric, bilious or irritable was labelled ‘liverish’. There were numerous ‘livery’ conditions: liver-hearted, or lily-livered – craven, cowardly. liver-faced – mean spirited. liver-lipped – pale and feeble. liver-sick – suffering from dropsy, or the diseases we now call cirrhosis and hepatitis.
‘Yellow belly’ is an insult, indicating that the person it is aimed at is a coward. What's the origin of the phrase 'Yellow-belly'? The term ‘yellow-belly’ is an archetypal American term, but began life in England in the late 18th century as a mildly derogatory nick-name.
One variation of the idiom “lily-livered” is “yellow-bellied,” which also refers to someone who lacks courage. Another variation is “chicken-hearted,” which implies cowardice but also suggests a lack of heart or compassion.
Lily-livered. Meaning lacking in courage or cowardly was coined by Shakespeare in Macbeth (1605) Act V, Scene III, Macbeth says to a servant boy, “Thou lily-liver’d boy,” accusing him of cowardice. Ever since medieval times, the liver was thought to be the seat of all emotions, especially courage.
lily-livered. L. lily-livered also, white-livered. Meaning and Synonym. used to describe a cowardly and weak person. not brave; cowardly; easily frightened; lacking courage; feeble-spirited; timid and pusillanimous; Example Sentences. There is no place for a lily-livered soldier in The United States Army. I thought my dog was lily-livered, but ...
