wuss

[Dennis R. Preston]

Greg is right for my memory. I didn't hear it as a kid, but first heard it
in the early 60's as "wussy," only later as "wuss," and assumed it was a
transparent euphemism for "pussy," which fits the sense as well as the
sound.

dInIs

>In a message dated 1/31/00 4:17:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>Joe_Pickett at HMCO.COM writes:
>
><< My guess is that wuss began showing up in the early 70s,  >>
>
>I remember it being used when I was a kid in the mid '60's in eastern
>Pennsylvania.  I was called one, several times:-)
>
>Greg Austin


Dennis R. Preston
Department of Linguistics and Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA
preston at pilot.msu.edu
Office: (517)353-0740
Fax: (517)432-2736