ninny

Etymology

Unknown; possibly related to innocent or Italian ninno (“small child”).

noun

1. (informal) A silly or foolish person.
   {{RQ:Shakespeare Tempest|act=III|scene=ii|page=12|passage=Caliban: What a py'de Ninnie's this? Thou ſcvrvy patch: […] }}
   Ninny — that soft, smiling, self-effacing, apologetic fellow, the type who is terribly sorry when you happen to step on his foot, the kind you can borrow money from in the certainty he will never demand you repay it. 1962, John D. MacDonald, (Please provide the book title or journal name)
   Now, on the pool deck, the boys tussle and roughhouse with the zeal of Labrador puppies, slugging each other lovingly in the shoulders and then retreating with giggles like ninnies. 2021-05-07, Barrett Swanson, “The Anxiety of Influencers”, in Harper's Magazine