“Don’t Be a Pussy”: The Surprising Link to ‘Pusillanimous’
We’ve all heard the phrase “don’t be a pussy” used to call someone out for being scared or timid. But what if I told you that this blunt, modern insult actually has roots in a much fancier, older word: pusillanimous? “Pusillanimous” (pronounced pyoo-sil-AN-uh-muhs) is a classic English adjective meaning “showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.” It comes from the Latin pusillanimis, which breaks down into pusillus (meaning “very […]