pussyfoot

/ˈpʊs.iˌfʊt/

pussyfoot means A teetotaller.

pussyfoot is pronounced /ˈpʊs.iˌfʊt/.

Etymology

From pussy (“feline”) + foot; because of the light and careful tread of cats.

noun

A teetotaller.e.g.“"We keep off that road like a pussyfoot keeps off whiskey. Get it out of your bean that we're exploring a deserted ruin."” — 1930, Sax Rohmer, The Day the World Ended, published 1969, page xi. 103:

To move silently, stealthily, or furtively.
To act timidly or cautiously.e.g.“— So are you going to practice what you’re preaching and stop pussyfooting around with Faye? — Hey, I’m 0 for 1 when it comes to practicing what I preach. These feet stay pussied for the time being.” — 2004, Jeph Jacques, Fripp and Eno:
To use euphemistic language or circumlocution.e.g.“"Then you talk up! And plain! What's there to be so pussyfooting about?"” — 1946, Tennessee Williams, The Unsatisfactory Supper:

Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

pussyfooted 76% match — Overly circumspect or euphemistic. vs pussyfoot →
pussyfootism 76% match — A tendency to pussyfoot; excessive timidity or caution. vs pussyfoot →
pussyfooting 74% match — The use of euphemism or circumlocution. vs pussyfoot →
pussyfooter 72% match — One who pussyfoots. vs pussyfoot →
furtive 58% match — Of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy. vs pussyfoot →
stalking 58% match — The act of going stealthily. vs pussyfoot →
stealthfully 57% match — With stealth. vs pussyfoot →
stealingly 57% match — By stealing (moving stealthily); furtively or sneakily vs pussyfoot →