noun / adjective
pansy
An insulting term for a boy or man considered weak, timid, or feminine.
The coach calls him a pansy for avoiding rough play.
Etymology
The flower-name comes from French thought, reflecting its association with remembrance. Its later use for a supposedly weak or feminine man is a disparaging figurative extension.
More examples
- He refuses to let anyone call his son a pansy.
- The boys are mocked as pansies for admitting their fears.
- The bully sneers at what he calls "pansy clothes."
Forms
pansy · pansies
Similar words
- sissy
- Similarly insulting; suggests weakness or failure to meet masculine expectations.
- coward
- Criticizes lack of courage without necessarily suggesting femininity.