SISSY
What does "SISSY" mean?
A derogatory term for a person, especially a boy, seen as timid or unmanly.
Meanings
- A person regarded as weak, cowardly, or effeminate; used as an insult, chiefly of boys or men. He was called a sissy for refusing to climb the tree. informal
- An affectionate diminutive for a sister. Come here, sissy, and help me set the table. informal
- Suited to or characteristic of a timid or effeminate person. He dismissed the pink wallpaper as too sissy. informal
Word origin
An American English diminutive of 'sis', itself a shortening of 'sister'; the weakling sense developed in the late 19th century from the 'little sister' connotation.
Remember it
SISSY hides SIS (sister) twice over - the same root that gave the word its 'little sister' put-down.
A little poem
They spat the word to bend a boy to shape,
as if a softer hand could not be brave-
the gentlest grip can hold the longest rope.
tercet
What it teaches
Words built to shame the gentle say more about the thrower than the throw.
Quick facts
What does SISSY mean?
A derogatory term for a person, especially a boy, seen as timid or unmanly.
Is SISSY a valid word?
Yes — SISSY is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SISSY?
SISSY has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does SISSY come from?
An American English diminutive of 'sis', itself a shortening of 'sister'; the weakling sense developed in the late 19th century from the 'little sister' connotation.
What can SISSY teach us?
Words built to shame the gentle say more about the thrower than the throw.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.