Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
TARDY
I. adjective (tardier; -est)
Etymology: alteration of earlier tardif, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *tardivus, from Latin tardus
Date: 15th century
moving slowly ; sluggish , delayed beyond the expected or proper time ; late , tardiness noun
II. noun (plural tardies)
Date: 1960
an instance of being tardy (as to a class)