milksop

[ milk-sop ]

noun

1. a weak or ineffectual person.

   Synonyms: wimp, namby-pamby, softy, milquetoast

milksop

/ ˈmɪlkˌsɒp /

noun

1. a feeble or ineffectual man or youth
2. a dish of bread soaked in warm milk, given esp to infants and invalids

Derived Forms

• ˈmilkˌsopism, noun
• ˈmilkˌsoppy, adjective

Other Words From

• milksopism noun
• milksoppy milksopping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of milksop¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See milk, sop

Example Sentences

Luckily the third in command, Lieutenant Heady, was no milksop.

From Project Gutenberg

As may be supposed, no one after this ventured to call Ellis a milksop, or to speak disparagingly of him in any other way.

From Project Gutenberg

"Why, it would take a little pink milksop like Bertha Parkes to wear such colors as those," she said behind his back one day.

From Project Gutenberg

Wiser boys called me a milksop and various other names, which I furiously resented yet inwardly recognized as just.

From Project Gutenberg

Master Stewart might be a milksop, but Crispin accounted him leastways honest, and had a kindness for him in spite of all.

From Project Gutenberg