milquetoast
UK[ˈmɪlk.təʊst]US[ˈmɪlk.toʊst]
n
a person who is timid, submissive, or ineffectual, especially a man.
Etymology
the term 'milquetoast' originates from a 20th-century american comic strip character. the cartoonist, h. t. webster, created the character 'caspar milquetoast' for his series "the timid soul" in 1924. the name itself was a deliberate, humorous misspelling of the bland food 'milk toast' (soft toast in warm milk), chosen to evoke qualities of paleness, softness, and lack of flavor. through the popularity of the comic, the fictional surname evolved into a common noun in the english lexicon, encapsulating the abstract concept of a feeble, unassertive personality.
Analysis
this word is a loanword derived from a proper name and is not productively formed from combinable morphemes in english. it is treated as a simplex word.
Examples
he was dismissed as a political milquetoast, unable to take a strong stand on any issue.
don't be such a milquetoast; you need to speak up for yourself in the meeting.
the villain in the story was contrasted with a milquetoast of a hero who needed to find his courage.