Cowardly, ignoring old wife’s shout (4)

I believe the answer is:

yell

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'shout' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for yell that I've seen before include "roar" , "Shetland isle" , "Call out" , "Clement --, politician" , "Loud utterance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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