"pussy," adj. = weak; effeminate; cowardly; unmanly; soft or easy enough for women, but unbefitting a man.

[Jonathan Lighter]

Thanks, Doug. One of the basic questions here is to what extent "pussy," adj., is related to the genital sense and the feline sense.

Cf. OED "pussy," n., and (mostly 1950s- '60s?) "pussycat" = sweet or nonaggressive person.

JL

"Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: "Douglas G. Wilson"
Subject: Re: "pussy," adj. = weak; effeminate; cowardly; unmanly; soft or
easy enough for women, but unbefitting a man.
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-- Doug Wilson

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