lily-livered cowards

[Saki6]

https://tinyurl.com/2p8uvcfp

By Monday morning, we will know some of the effects the program has had, but others will be long-term. Those suggesting now that it will cripple the national morale or turn us all into lily-livered cowards are, one hopes, underestimating the national fiber. If we can’t take a piece of speculative fiction like “The Day After,” we are weak and flabby.

Isn't the "lily-liverd" here redundant? Are there any cowards who are not lily-livered? The word "lily-livered" means "not having any courage; not brave."

 

[Skrej]

It's a set phrase, albeit one that's kind of old-fashioned or maybe even anachronistic. I associate it with genre of old western books and movies.

Compare it to a similar dated phrase 'yellow bellied cowards'. It's similarly redundant, because calling someone yellow-bellied is already referring to their cowardice.

You might even hear them all lumped together in one supremely redundant, cliched insult:
You no-good, yellow-bellied, lily-livered, spineless gutless coward of a worm!

 

[Tdol]

Are there any cowards who are not lily-livered?

Probably not- it's just there for emphasis and added contempt.

 

[Skrej]

I've never really thought about the literal meaning of the expression, so I looked it up.

'Lily' is a reference to the white or pale color of the flower, so it's essentially saying that your liver had no blood in it to color it. I suppose it's akin to the expression of 'blood draining from your face' when you're frightened or scared.

Origin of the phrase supposedly traces back to medieval times (1605 was first documented use of the term). At that point in time, the liver was thought to be the seat of courage. No blood in the liver = no courage. I guess the rationale was that emotions were supplied by blood flow to the various seats, much like blood delivers oxygen.

Which is sort of odd, because the etymology of the word 'courage' has its roots in the Latin (via Old French into Middle English) word for heart, which is where we today metaphorically refer to courage being located. Maybe that was the connection with blood - the heart delivered blood-borne courage to the liver for storage?

Of course back then, they also thought bloodletting and dung poultices were grand treatments for ailments. Nothing like treating an open wound with feces or draining half your blood to make you recover faster!