1920 (but not attested again until 1960), perhaps a clipped form of whimper (cf whimp, 1540s), perhaps influenced by J. Wellington Wimpy, comparatively unaggressive character in "Popeye" comics.
1986, with out (adv.), from wimp (n.). Related: Wimped; wimping.
To cancel or withdraw from an action or place because of fear; chicken out: I could feel for my friend because I've wimped out on the assertive front/ ''I know it seems disrespectful to you,'' I wimped (1980s+)
An ineffectual person; a soft, silly person; a weakling; drip, nebbish: Unmacho. Short hair, glasses, awkward, uncertain. WIMP/ his unfortunate and unfounded charge that Thompson portrayed him as a ''wimp''/ Apparently whimps complained it was too hot
[1960s+ College students; origin unknown; perhaps fr J Wellington Wimpy, a relatively unaggressive character in the comic strip ''Popeye''; perhaps fr the early 1900s British university wimp ''young woman,'' perhaps fr whimper; occurs in a 1920 George Ade story, which may be the source of the term, used more in intervening years in the adjective form wimpish]