charley (howard), n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

charley (howard) n.

[rhy. sl.; poss. based on Tennyson ‘The Revenge’: ‘Then sware Lord Thomas Howard: “’Fore God I am no coward”’; however, note charlie adj. (1)]

a coward.

1936		in J. Curtis Gilt Kid.
1944		Maurer & Baker ‘“Aus.” Rhyming Argot’ in AS XIX:3.
1960		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl.
1969		(con. 1912) A. Baron King Dido 240: ‘If ’e don’t come ’e’s no man. ‘’E’ll be shown up for a charlie’ [ibid.] 241: ‘Dido ’ll put it all round Bethnal Green that Keogh is a charlie’.
1972		Dodson & Saczek Dict. of Cockney Rhy. Sl.
1992		R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.
2002		B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. Sl.