Welcome to another Wacky Word Wednesday. It is time for yet another weird, wonderful or wacky word to get an airing this week. This is another word that had origins that I was not aware of; now that I am, it makes it all the more appealing to me! So, let me present to you….

Mollycoddle. I thought you might be interested to know that in the 19th Century a ‘Molly’ or ‘Moll’ was a girl or prostitute. ‘Coddle’ of course is to over-indulge someone. Now, for a filthy-minded person like me, this conjures up all sorts of wicked thoughts!

Back to ‘mollycoddle,’ it is pampering and pandering, spoiling and spoon-feeding; treating like a baby, cosseting and cajoling. This is a child that is wrapped in cotton wool, it’s every whim catered to, waited on hand and foot, smothered with love and almost killed with kindness!

Very often a mollycoddled person is a wimp and a weakling, a bit of a namby-pamby, big girl’s blouse type. Someone who is scared of their own shadow, and clings to their mummy’s skirts.

It certainly does not do anyone any favours in life!

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