The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mealy-mouthness
Mealy-mouthed \Meal"y-mouthed`\, a.
Using soft words; not straightforward; plausible; affectedly
or timidly delicate of speech; speaking deviously; unwilling
to tell the truth in plain language. Opposite of frank or
blunt. ``Mealy-mouthed philanthropies.''
--Tennyson.
She was a fool to be mealy-mouthed where nature speaks
so plain.
--L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster] -- Meal"y-mouth`ness, n.