doughface

doughface
doughface contemptuous nickname in U.S. politics for Northern Democrats who worked in the interest of the South before the Civil War; it was taken to mean "man who allows himself to be moulded." The source is an 1820 speech by John Randolph of Roanoke, in the wake of the Missouri Compromise.
Randolph, mocking the northerners intimidated by the South, referred to a children's game in which the players daubed their faces with dough and then looked in a mirror and scared themselves. [Daniel Walker Howe, "What Hath God Wrought," 2007]
Mask of dough is recorded from 1809, and the same image Randolph used is attested in another context by 1833.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Doughface — Dough face , n. A contemptuous nickname for a timid, yielding politician, or one who is easily molded. [Political cant, U. S.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • doughface — ☆ doughface [dō′fās΄ ] n. [ DOUGH + FACE] in the Civil War, a Northerner who sided with the South on the slavery issue …   English World dictionary

  • Doughface — The term doughface originally referred to an actual mask made of dough, but came to be used in a disparaging context for someone, especially a politician, who is perceived to be pliable and moldable.[1] In the 1847 Webster s dictionary… …   Wikipedia

  • doughface — noun Date: 1830 a Northern congressman not opposed to slavery in the South before or during the American Civil War; also a Northerner sympathetic to the South during the same period • dough faced adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • doughface — /doh fays /, n. U.S. Hist. 1. a Northerner who sympathized with the South during the controversies over new territories and slavery before the Civil War. 2. a congressman from a northern state not opposed to slavery in the South. [1785 95, Amer.; …   Universalium

  • doughface — noun a person, especially a politician, who is pliable, moldable like dough …   Wiktionary

  • doughface — n. timid, yielding, easily molded person; (U.S. History) Northerner who supported the South during the Civil War (particularly a Northern congressman who refused to condemn slavery) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • doughface — n. [U. S.] Pliable politician, nose of wax …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • doughface — dough•face [[t]ˈdoʊˌfeɪs[/t]] n. amh. (before and during the Civil War) a Northerner who sympathized with the South, or a Northern politician who was not opposed to slavery in the South • Etymology: 1825–30, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • doughface — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun 1. : false face, mask 2. a. : a congressman from a northern state who did not oppose slavery b. : a northerner sympathetic to the South during the Civil War …   Useful english dictionary

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