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 19th century as slang for an incompetent lightweight.
Not a word I knew. I sounds so derogatory.
ReplyDeleteI thought it sounded quite affectionate.
DeleteI use "nebbach" (Russian Yiddish) all the time, to express sympathy . So "nebbach sweet husband; you have forgotten some words from Yiddish".
ReplyDeleteAww, sweet.
Delete34 words? Challenge accepted. I will "borrow" nebbish to begin with. Describes a certain ineffectual large person of a strange colour, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteWell, now you mention it . . .
DeleteCHUBBINESS.
ReplyDeleteOnly one 'b.'
DeleteTwo Bs in the puzzle and two in Chubbiness according to my dictionary.
DeleteAre plurals allowed as in Cubbies?
ReplyDeleteNo, plurals are not liked, for some reason.
DeleteThat seems unfair, but it's the same with the nine letter puzzles we get in the paper. They also don't allow verbs ending in "s" which I think is even more unfair. Either way I failed to find 34 words, finding only: bush-shine-snub-chubbiness-since-issue-chess-cuss-shun-snib-shin-hiss-such-sinus. Plus a few not-allowed plurals.
DeleteYou're quite right - my apologies. There are two 'b' in the puzzle. (Hides head in shame)
DeleteIt looks easy at first when you can see half a dozen words but then I am stumped. Never heard the word 'nebbish' before. Well done on the 19.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - the first few words are almost a gift.
DeleteI love word games like that but somehow I don't think I'd get anywhere 34. Nebbish? Nahh, not that one for sure
ReplyDeleteSome of the words are really odd.
DeleteI didn‘t know the term nebbish, but I usually try (not always successfully) not to be one myself.
ReplyDeleteLikewise!
DeleteIt was very familiar to me! I grew up hearing my grandparents using the word 'nebekh' :)
ReplyDeleteSweet memories.
DeleteI do the NYT one every day.
ReplyDeleteThey're fun to exercise the grey cells.
DeleteI think that the slimy American vice president, James David Vance, could accurately be described as "nebbish".
ReplyDeleteIt's too nice a name for him.
DeleteInteresting word game that I have not come across before. The other word game I came across recently was Waffles Unlimited from the NYT.
ReplyDeleteJust the name sounds interesting . . .
DeleteI guess that Trump just found out that our Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is not a nebbish.,
ReplyDeleteMark Carney is no idiot as others have discovered.
DeleteThat’s a new word to me. My brain isn’t working too well yet. I could only come up with one word
ReplyDeleteSometimes my mind goes blank when confronted with a puzzle.
DeleteI enjoy the Polygon but it vexes me that many English words are not allowed. The new Picle is fun, searching the photograph for clues to the place and the year. DB and I text our result first thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and it annoys me that so many American spellings are allowed.
DeleteA new word to me too!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Sunday.
All the best Jan
You, too, Jan.
DeleteAgain, your post is intirguing, and I love word games.
ReplyDeleteI play at least one word game a day.
DeleteI love the word nebbish. I have used it before in talking about a person I saw somewhere.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasant-sounding word to me.
DeleteAlways cool to fund new words. You might remember them, but I tend not to.
ReplyDeleteIf I want to remember them I have to use them immediately.
DeleteI have quite a bit of Yiddish in my vocabulary. It's what comes from living in nj! Schlemiel , schlimazel, verklempt, schmatte, on and on! Very descriptive useful words.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful words.
DeleteI not only know the word, I use it!!! Lol.
ReplyDeleteI wondered if you would! 😉
ReplyDeleteI always took it to mean a mild-mannered person -- perhaps that's a more positive way to look at it!
ReplyDeleteThat's my interpretation of it, too.
DeleteFun!
ReplyDeleteI've seen the word in stories and knew what it meant, but I have never used it. I'm going to save it until no other word will do. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea!
DeleteNever came across that word before, but it sounds like an insulting word...just by the sound of it.
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds quite friendly. 😊
DeleteNebbish is familiar to me from my childhood, although I can't really recall why. Maybe somebody called me a nebbish!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was said affectionately. 😊
DeleteI had heard of nebbish before, and my sense of the definition jived with what you wrote.
ReplyDeleteI think it's probably heard more in the States than here.
DeleteInteresting. I have never heard of that word.
ReplyDeleteThere's always something new . . .
DeleteYiddish has a number of great descriptive words that have made it into the English language. I thought it was an American thing but obviously not.
ReplyDeleteYiddish is descriptive and energetic.
DeleteI have heard of nebbish as well as other Yiddish words. This might be fun to play while I'm away this week. Can you use letters more than once or only once?
ReplyDeleteonly once.
DeleteHave fun!
DeleteLike you, were I to guess, I would have guessed it was an adjective.
ReplyDeleteWords ending in 'ish' are often adjectives.
DeleteFun word...lots of characters come to mind.
ReplyDeleteSpoilt for choice!
DeleteThis reminds me of some of the games I play on the New YorkTimes!
ReplyDeleteWe're all busily exercising our minds , one way or another.
DeleteI do learn a lot visiting here. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs do I, visiting your blog. Thank you.
DeleteI've never heard of that word before. I do enjoy these type of word games though, but there are too many words that I don't know to do very well at them.
ReplyDeleteSome words seem very strange.
DeleteAnother new word learned! xxx
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDelete