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wimp (n.)

1920 (but not attested again until 1960), perhaps a clipped form of whimper (cf whimp, 1540s), perhaps influenced by J. Wellington Wimpy, comparatively unaggressive character in "Popeye" comics.

wimp (v.)

1986, with out (adv.), from wimp (n.). Related: Wimped; wimping.

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Definitions of wimp from WordNet

wimp (n.)
a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy;
Synonyms: chicken / crybaby
wimp (n.)
a hypothetical subatomic particle of large mass that interacts weakly with ordinary matter through gravitation; postulated as a constituent of the dark matter of the universe;
Synonyms: weakly interacting massive particle
From wordnet.princeton.edu