Where Does the Term Lily Livered Come from?

Chloe Bennett
Chloe Bennett
• • 4 min read

Origin of Lily-Livered from the Medieval Belief That the Liver Was the Seat of Courage, and the Pale Color of the Lily Flower. a Person Who Had No Blood in...

Where Does the Term Lily Livered Come from?

Origin of lily-livered
From the medieval belief that the liver was the seat of courage, and the pale color of the lily flower. A person who had no blood in their liver would have no courage and would thus be a coward.

What does lily-livered stand for?

: lacking courage : cowardly.

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What does lily-livered boy mean?

A lily-livered person is a coward, easily frightened. The term lily-livered is one of many vivid expressions we get from Shakespeare. It may not have originated with him, but his use of the term in the much-performed Macbeth ensured it a place in the language.

Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett

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Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.