ENGLISH
REFERENCE

nancy

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈnænsi// nan·cy Slang Vulgar

n. an insulting name for a man who is seen as weak or not masculine enough. It is an old-fashioned and rude way to attack someone's personality or appearance.

n. a derogatory epithet for an effeminate or weak man. Highly offensive in modern usage; historically used to disparage men perceived as lacking traditional masculine traits.


SIMPLE

He was bullied and called a nancy by the older boys.

CONTEXTUAL

The character in the play struggles against the narrow-minded neighbors who dismiss him as a nancy for his interest in poetry.

COMPLEX

The author explores how such reductive labels as nancy were weaponized in mid-century social circles to enforce rigid standards of gender performance and punish any perceived deviation.

Etymology 1

Medieval diminutive of Ann and Agnes. Compare Betsy, Patsy.

Etymology 2

From French Nancy, from Medieval Latin Nanciacum, from Old High German Nanzig.

Usage

Often used as a proper noun or in the phrase 'nancy boy'.

Idioms1 entry

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