Milktoast is the standard spelling of the adjective describing one who is meek, timid, and unassertive; milktoast is an uncommon misspelling. The word comes from Caspar Milquetoast, a character in the newspaper cartoon “The Timid Soul.” Much to the confusion of writers, the similar-meaning word milksop is so spelled, since it implies the weakness of bread when sopped with milk.