greenhorn
/ˈɡɹinˌhoɹn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.09 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
name
A census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States.
Example Sentences
- "The powers of the Canadian voyageurs and hunters in the consumption of meat strike the greenhorn with wonder and astonishment; and are only equalled by the gastronomical capabilities exhibited by Indian dogs, both following the same plan in their epicurean gorgings."
- "Bije scorned the man who had hired him, this Francis Mason from Philadelphia, but he admitted that the greenhorn had courage and determination."
- "All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close...this is gonna be your lucky day."
- "She lives in New Bedford, and her dad's not around much and her mum calls her boyfriend a Portagee, a fuckin' greenhorn,"
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English grene horn, which is attested for “horn of a recently killed animal” and as the name of a horse. It may also have been used of young horned animals. In all cases “green” refers to the idea of “fresh, young, recent”, taken from plants and used in Middle English for all kinds of things irrespective of their colour, e.g. wounds, leather, fish, cheese (see green cheese). Figurative use for people dates from the 17th century. Compare semantically German Grünschnabel (literally “green-beak”). By surface analysis, green + horn.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɡɹinˌhoɹn/
- British English: /ˈɡɹiːnˌhɔːɹn/