"spiritless coward," 1529, from M.Fr.
poultron "rascal, coward," from It.
poltrone "lazy fellow, coward," apparently from
*poltro "couch, bed" (cf. Milanese
polter, Venetian
poltrona "couch"), perhaps from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G.
polstar "pillow," see
bolster).