Italian has poverino . The fact that nebbish made it into English owes much to Jewish Borscht Belt comedians becoming '50s TV stars.
Comedians had nothing to do with Nebbish being English. 
mnli hypothesis: Comedians had nothing to do with Nebbish being English.  premise: Italian has poverino . The fact that nebbish made it into English owes much to Jewish Borscht Belt comedians becoming '50s TV stars.