Search results
The earliest known use of the word pantywaist is in the 1910s. OED's earliest evidence for pantywaist is from 1910, in the Lima News (Lima, Ohio). pantywaist is formed within English, by compounding.
The usual meaning of the word pantywaist is 'an effeminate or weak man or boy; sissy'. Example: "I think my career has shown I'm not exactly a pantywaist" (John Wayne, in a 1971 Playboy interview). The original sense, though, referred to an article of clothing for children.
Jan 3, 2020 · one of the Old Testament people of coastal Palestine who made war on the Israelites, early 14c., from Old French Philistin, from Late Latin Philistinus, from Late Greek Philistinoi (plural), from Hebrew P'lishtim, "people of P'lesheth" ("Philistia"); compare Akkadian Palastu, Egy. ink.
Fast-forward a hundred years, and hardly anyone uses “union suit” or “pantywaist” to describe clothes. But “pantywaist” has endured, sometimes below the radar, as a mild slur, meaning someone who is weak; a sissy. It is almost universally applied to men.
The noun pantywaist has proven to be more enduring in its figurative meaning — an ineffectual or childish man — than in its original meaning, which was a garment of early 20th century vintage: short pants fastened to a waist band, worn by children.
Jun 13, 2007 · #1. So we're having a conversation about the origins of the term Panty Waist (or waste if you ask me...) I contend that it is Panty Waste: -As defined by Urban Dictionay... 1) The dried crusty...
Feb 29, 2016 · If someone’s called a pantywaist, they’re being disparaged as weak or timid. The term refers to a baby garment popular in the early 20th century that snapped at the waist. Some people misunderstand the term as pantywaste, but that’s what linguists jokingly call an eggcorn. This is part of a complete episode.
People also ask
Where did pantywaist come from?
What is an example of a pantywaist?
How do you use the word pantywaist?
What is a panty waist?
Which expression parallels Pantywaist in using a woman's garment to refer to weak men?
What does panty mean?
