The Rice University Neologisms Database

A slight illness hugely exaggerated by a man. Millness refers to a hyperbolic injury or ailment that a man might invent to impress others, or to seem manlier. Examples are a slight cough exaggerated to a deadly influenza virus, or a stubbed toe to a broken foot. The blend here is vaguely aural, and works better in British English, where “male” said fast sounds fairly similar to “ill”. Millness might even be a pun on maleness, as a man who claims millnesses is hardly the epitome of maleness. There are a few neologisms involving men that portray them as vain creatures, or taking on traditional female roles (see manorexic, manlimony, metrosexual, manscape). Perhaps this is a product of the popularity of homosexuality in popular culture.