NAMBY-PAMBY

adj. & n.

--adj.

1. lacking vigour or drive; weak.

2 insipidly pretty or sentimental.

--n. (pl. -ies)

1. a namby-pamby person.

2 namby-pamby talk.

Etymology: fanciful formulation on name of Ambrose Philips, Engl. pastoral writer d. 1749