Green’s Dictionary of Slang

acres n.

[the character of Bob Acres, in R.B. Sheridan’s The Rivals (1775), whose ‘courage always oozed out of his finger ends’]

a coward.

Show quotations
[UK]Thackeray Pendennis I 108: ‘Hold your tongue, Bob Acres. It’s my belief ye’re no better than a coward,’ said Captain Costigan.
, , [UK]Hotten Sl. Dict.