Sissy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪsi/

Definitions

1. Someone seen as lacking courage or strength and behaving in a timid or weak manner ; a boy or man regarded as having traits or behaviors considered effeminate
2. An individual stereotyped as weak or unmanly due to timidity or softness ; a male who exhibits qualities associated with softness or femininity
3. A person characterized by a lack of bravery or toughness, often viewed as delicate ; a male perceived as feminine in behavior or appearance

Etymology: "Sissy" began as a family word. It is formed from "sis," a clipping of "sister," plus the diminutive ending "-y," so the original sense was roughly "little sister." From there it came to describe a boy who was thought to act like a girl, and then a timid or weak person of either sex. Early uses were affectionate and often applied to a younger brother or child who was tagged as a little sister's companion, and the later pejorative sense grew out of that association. The word's own origin is less settled. One suggestion is that it is onomatopoetic, imitating a soft, hissing or sibilant sound, and some link it to the French "pipi," meaning urine, which would tie it to the same nursery vocabulary as "piss" and "wee-wee." Neither idea is proven, so the family-word explanation is the one best supported by the record.

Synonyms: coward, weakling, wimp, pansy, softy

Antonyms: brave, hero, warrior, champion, tough