Pamby
/ˈpæm.bi/noun
A disparaging term for a weak, timid, or effeminate man.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “glamour” or “fascinate,” pamby has no documented occult origin; its history reflects changing ideas about masculinity and ridicule.
Etymological Timeline
Late 18th–19th Century
English
Pamby
“A likely diminutive or familiar form of the name Pamela; the exact formation is uncertain.”
19th Century
English
pamby-pamby
“A reduplicated form associated with weakness, childishness, or effeminacy.”
1880s
English
pamby
“A weak or effeminate man; the insulting sense becomes established in American English.”
Late 19th Century
English
pamby
“An adjective describing someone as feeble, timid, or insufficiently masculine.”
Modern English
English
pamby
“A dated and offensive disparaging term for a weak or effeminate person.”