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