Nebbish

 

Nebbish

This word is from Saturday’s Polygon, which asks for 34 words of at least four letters, each of which must include the central letter, in this instance, ‘s.’  I found 19 before I gave up.

 ‘Nebbish’ was unknown to me. Although it sounds like an adjective, it is a noun for an ineffectual, anxious person who lacks confidence and allows himself to be pushed around. It derives from the American Yiddish term ‘nebbish’ or ‘nebekh’ for unfortunate.

A nebbish is not despised but pitied as he stands back, allowing others to take the credit, or to push in front of him in a queue.  He is a figure of fun.

Nebbish entered the English lexicon in the late 19^th century as slang for an incompetent lightweight.