subs. (old: now recognised).—A coward; a ladified man; a novice; a MEACOCK (q.v.).
1390. CHAUCER, The Monk’s Prologue, b. 15396.
| ‘Allas!’ sche saith, ‘that ever I was i-schape, | |
| To wedde a MYLK-SOP or a coward ape.’ |
1590. GREENE, Mourning Garment [GROSART (1881–6), ix. 173]. What is it for mee to pinne a fayre meacocke and a witty MILKSOP on my sleaue who dare not answere with their swords in the face of the enemy?
1593. G. HARVEY, Pierce’s Supererogation [GROSART (1885), ii. 17]. Are MILKSOP Muses such whiteliuer’d Trontes?
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Biancone, a goodly, great MILKESAPPE, a fresh-water soldier.
1600. SHAKESPEARE, Much Ado about Nothing, v. 1. Boys, apes, braggarts, Jacks, MILKSOPS!
1603. DEKKER, Patient Grissell, iii. 2 [GROSART (1886), v. 167]. Ono. Fye, Signior; no musicke in your mouth but battles, yet a meere MILKESOP?
1618. FIELD, Amends for Ladies, iv. 2. Thou art a faint-hearted fellow, a MILK-SOP.
1621. BURTON, The Anatomy of Melancholy, p. 143. ’Tis now come to that pass that he is no gentleman, a very MILK-SOP, a clown.
1660. TATHAM, The Rump, i. [MAIDMENT (1873), p. 202]. A meer MILKSOP … A wheybrain’d fellow.
1892. Evening Standard, 25 Nov., p. 4, c. 5. Everyone knows how boys dread being set down as MILKSOPS.
