also softie, 1863, "silly person," from soft (adj.) + -y (3). Meaning "soft-hearted person" is from 1886; that of "weak, unmanly or effeminate man" is from 1895. The Mister Softee soft ice-cream operation began in Philadelphia, U.S., in 1956.
soft-pedal
soft-shelled
soft-soap
soft-spoken
software
softy
sog
soggy
Soho
soi-disant
soigne
