fraidy-cat

[frey-dee-kat] /ˈfreɪ diˌkæt/
noun, Informal.
1.
a timid, easily frightened person: often used by children.
Also called scaredy-cat.
Origin
1905-10; fraid (aphetic form of afraid) + -y1
Word Origin and History for fraidy cat

fraidy-cat

n.

"coward," by 1871, American English slang, from 'fraid, childish or dialectal (African, West Indies) pronunciation of afraid (by 1816), + cat.

Slang definitions & phrases for fraidy cat

fraidy

noun phrase

A timorous person, esp a boy; coward (1910+)