origin of "wuss"; "As the feller says" (1886);"Bloom for the grave " (1996)

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>    There is NOTHING before 1970, anywhere.  I think "wuss" is from "wimp"
>plus "pussy."

It is possible. However I agree with Chapman that it might be from
"pussy-wussy" with no "wimp" required. Chapman calls "pussy-wussy"
'hypothetical', but it's now attested hundreds of times on the Web. Chapman
says "wuss[y]" is from the 1960's ("American Slang", 2nd ed.).

-- Doug Wilson