mumsy

mumsy

English

Etymology

Attested from 1876.[1]

Adjective

mumsy (comparative mumsier, superlative mumsiest)

1. (informal) Characteristic of a mum; motherly.
   • 2009, Penny Isaacs, Sarah Lockett, The Dish, Troubador Publishing, page xix,

     There is a fine line between being the perfect, considerate hostess and being mumsy – warning signs are making marmalade, bottling fruit, even baking cakes.

   • 2012, Ellie Irving, Billie Templar's War, Random House (The Bodley Head), page 44,

     Linda lives next door and is dead mumsy, even though she's no one's mum, 'cos she cooks my tea sometimes and lets me watch EastEnders on her massive plasma TV, even though she says I should 'stay true to my Northern Roots' and watch Corrie.

   • 2013, John Sweeney, North Korea Undercover, Random House (Corgi Books), page 14,

     Kim Il Sung is Kim the First, but in the regime's iconography he comes across as an über-effeminate God-the-Mother, all mumsy and 1950s, a celestial Doris Day.

Noun

mumsy (plural mumsies)

1. (endearing) Mum, mother.
   • 1923 October 2, Flora Belle Jan, Going To The Dogs, in The Collegian, Republished in 2008, Fleur Yano (editor), Collected Writings of Flora Belle Jan, Xlibris, page 36,

     Such are the captions in newspapers, such compose the subjects for sermons from the pulpit, and such are the problems that are annihilating poor daddies and mumsies, not merely inch by inch, but millimeter by millimeter.

   • 1938, Margaret Ayer Barnes, Wisdom's Gate, Houghton Mifflin, page 238,

     Mumsy had come over to discuss the family party, which she was giving in the form of a Christmas luncheon so the children could come to it.

   • 2009, Lillian M. Henry, In Bristol Fashion, AuthorHouse, page 202,

     "Is this good to eat, Mumsy?" she asked. Startled at the term "Mumsy" instead of the usual "Mam," Mary Joy cringed a little inside. My child is already losing her Welshness, she mourned inwardly.

See also

• daddy
• mummy
• nanna
• popsy

References

1. Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “mummy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• Summy, summy