quote:

In 1726 Henry Carey parodied the sentimental ballads of Ambrose Philips, and gave the word 'namby-pamby' to the English language:

Let the verse the subject fit
Little subject, little wit.
Namby-Pamby is your guide,
Albion's joy, Hibernia's pride.
Namby-Pamby, Piully-piss.
Rhimy-pim'd on Missy-Miss;
Tartaretta tartaree
From the navel to the knee.

[Jean-Jacques Lecercle. 1994. Philosophy of Nonsense: The Intuitions of Victorian Nonsense Literature, p.34.]

"The poem was so successful that Carey himself began to be known as "Namby Pamby Carey" (while Philips became known as "Namby Pamby"), and the poem even came to be used as children's literature. Furthermore, the term "namby pamby" came into widespread usage to describe any nonsensical frippery." According to this Wikipedia article.

Earlier, John Gay had tried to satirize the works of Philips; his six "pastorals completely achieved this goal, but his ludicrous pictures of the English country lads and their loves were found to be entertaining on their own account". Behind this all was Alexander Pope. What fun! Here's the complete poem.

quote:

Originally posted by zmjezhd:
the term "namby pamby" came into widespread usage to describe any nonsensical frippery."

Interesting. Is this still current US usage? The British usage would be more akin to weak, half-hearted or ineffectual.

Is this still current US usage?

I don't think so. The OED1 gives four meanings: (1) Of styles. compositions, actions, etc.: Weakly sentimental, insipidly pretty, affectedly or childishly simple. (2) Of persons: Inclined to weak sentimentality, affected dantiness, or childish simplicity; of a weak or trifling character. (3) That whichis marked by affected pettiness and feeble sentimentality; a composition of this kind. (4) A namby-pamby person.

I don't recall ever using "namby pamby", but it's clear from the way it sounds that it is meant to ridicule someone as weak.

I liked the following lines from Carey's poem:

Piddling Ponds of Pissy-Piss;

and

Sh---ing Writes and Writing Sh-ts