Meaning

noun an abject coward

noun a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

adjective having deserted a cause or principle

originFrom Middle English recreaunt, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French recreant (“defeated”), from recroire (“to yield in a trial by combat, surrender allegiance”). Compare miscreant.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0