Monday word: poltroon

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

poltroon (pŏl-tro͞on′), noun.

An abject or utter coward.

Etymology:  1500s, Italian poltrone, coward, idler.

My brain wants to tie this word to 'dubloon', but they are completely unrelated.
My friend thought it might mean "tiny poultry".  Which is perhaps a useful mnemonic.  "Chicken!"