milksop

American  

[milk-sop] / ˈmɪlkˌsɒp /

noun

1. a weak or ineffectual person.

   Synonyms:

   wimp, namby-pamby, softy, milquetoast

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milksop British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• milksopism noun
• milksopping adjective
• milksoppy adjective

Etymology

Origin of milksop

1350–1400; Middle English. See milk, sop

Example Sentences

“Took you all for milksops at first. Deepest apologies,” he added, with a bow.

From Literature

As the scroll fell back down into the road yet again, Constance called aloud, “Put some energy into it, you little milksop. I’m not hanging about here all day.”

From Literature

Gray displayed his politics with disarming plainness – he believed in Scottish independence and socialism; I was a milksop unionist and social democrat.

From The Guardian

If you’ll remember, Dante didn’t have enough respect for milksops to give them a special place inside hell.

From Washington Times

Today’s milksop egalitarians probably will flinch from such a robust attack on inequality, assisted by the rats that carried the fleas whose intestines carried the bacterial strain.

From Washington Post