milquetoast
[milk-tohst]
- a very timid, unassertive, spineless person, especially one who is easily dominated or intimidated: a milquetoast who's afraid to ask for a raise.
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Origin of milquetoast
1935–40, Americanism; after Caspar Milquetoast, a character in The Timid Soul, comic strip by H. T. Webster (1885–1952), American cartoonist
Also called Caspar Milquetoast.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
sucklingbairnnewbornmilksoptotmollycoddletoddleryoungsternurslingbabenipperbambinobundlechilddividendkidboybuttondeductionchickExamples from the Web for milquetoast
Contemporary Examples
Either way, he stood out in a country whose media industry is often criticized for its milquetoast manner.
Canada’s Subversive Sock Puppet: Ed the Sock Isn’t Afraid to Say AnythingSoraya Roberts
November 13, 2014
Hence, all the agreeing with Obama, all the adopting of milquetoast positions.
In contrast, Santorum's milquetoast “disagreement” looks pathetic and unpresidential.
Is anybody planning on running a repeat of Milquetoast and the Crazies again?
Gingrich has tried to depict Romney a milquetoast moderate in the line of former state governor Charlie Crist.
milquetoast
- US and Canadian a meek, submissive, or timid person
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Word Origin
C20: from Caspar Milquetoast, a cartoon character invented by H. T. Webster (1885–1952)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for milquetoast
n.
"timid, meek person," 1938, from Caspar Milquetoast, character created by U.S. newspaper cartoonist H.T. Webster (1885-1952) in the strip "The Timid Soul," which ran from 1924 in the "New York World" and later the "Herald Tribune." By 1930 the name was being referenced as a type of the meek man. The form seems to be milktoast with an added French twist; cf. also milksop.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper