Wordie: Ninny: Comments

Comment by slumry, about 1 year ago

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:59:14 +0000

Perhaps derived from the proper name Innocent. (etymonline)

Comment by slumry, about 1 year ago

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:40:12 +0000

Good question--a quick look suggests not, though, if etymonline is to be trusted. Both apparently come from names. Ninny has a connotation of immature; nincompoop has more of a connotation of fool. It is a relief to me, because my mother sometimes called me a little ninny, but never a nincompoop. ;-)

Comment by arby, about 1 year ago

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:31:26 +0000

Probably short for nincompoop, no?