greenhorn
Meanings
Plural: greenhorns
Noun
- an awkward and inexperienced youth
- An inexperienced person; a novice, beginner or newcomer.
- A Portuguese person.
Origin / Etymology
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”).
Scrabble Score: 13
greenhorn is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordgreenhorn is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
greenhorn is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 15
greenhorn is a valid Words With Friends word