Wimp
/wɪmp/noun
A weak, timid, or ineffectual person.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “fascinate” or “glamour,” wimp has no documented occult origin; its early history is uncertain, with a possible connection to “whimper.”
Etymological Timeline
Early 20th Century
American English
wimp
“A slang term for a weak or contemptible person; the precise origin is uncertain.”
1920s
English
wimp
“Recorded in American slang with the modern sense of a timid or weak person.”
20th Century
English
wimp
“Became established as a general insult for someone lacking courage, strength, or assertiveness.”
Modern English
English
wimp
“A weak, timid, or ineffectual person.”