wuss

== English == === Etymology === 1976–1981 in US college slang. Perhaps abbreviated from wussy, or blend of wimp and puss. Compare earlier wussy. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /wʊs/ (Scotland, Northern Ireland) IPA(key): /wʉs/ Rhymes: -ʊs === Noun === wuss (plural wusses) (slang, mildly derogatory) A weak, ineffectual, cowardly, or timid person. 1976, Univ. N. Carolina, Chapel Hill, Campus Slang typescript Nov. 6 Come on you wuss, hit a basket..! John's a wuss. 1995, Rob Huizenga, You're Okay, It's Just a Bruise Page 120 ...if you got a reputation as a wuss around the league, nobody else would ever even trade for you, or pick you up if you got cut. 2003, Andrea P. Roberts, Uncovered: 20 Hints for Men from a Bisexual Woman Page 7 And finally, don't be a wuss. Have a rich-man's attitude. Men who have money are generally confident and assertive. 2003, Marc J. Soares, 100 Hikes in Yosemite National Park Page 21 ...stop, study the map, and wait for the others. It's better to be a wuss than a stud. ==== Synonyms ==== (weak, ineffectual, cowardly, or timid person): pansy, pushover, weakling, wimp, puss, pussy; see also Thesaurus:milksop or Thesaurus:coward ==== Derived terms ==== wuss out ==== Translations ==== === Verb === wuss (third-person singular simple present wusses, present participle wussing, simple past and past participle wussed) Only used in wuss out == Catawba == === Noun === wuss alternative spelling of wus == Scots == === Alternative forms === wis, wiss, woss, vouss === Etymology === From Middle English wus, wose (“juice, sap”), from Old English wōs (“moisture, exuded liquid, juice”), from Proto-Germanic *wōsą (“juice, moisture”), from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“fat, moisture”). Cognate with Danish os (“vine sap”), West Frisian weaze (“slime, mud”), Dutch waas (“marshy land, vapor, mist, film”). More at English ooze. === Noun === wuss (plural wusses) juice The liquid obtained from boiling or squeezing fruit or vegetable substances