Dictionary

greenhorn en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡɹiːnˌhoːɹn/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• grēn′hôrn′
• /ˈɡɹiːnˌhɔːɹn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɡɹinˌhoɹn/ (Canada, General-American, Scotland)
• (Southern-England) audio

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.

Meanings

1. (US) An inexperienced person; a novice, beginner, or newcomer.
   • All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close...this is gonna be your lucky day. 2001 November 15, Bungie, Halo: Combat Evolved, v1.0, Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox, level/area: The Pillar of Autumn:
   • 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. 1847, George Frederick Augustus Ruxton, Adventures in Mexico and the Rocky Mountains, page 267:
   • Bije scorned the man who had hired him, this Francis Mason from Philadelphia, but he admitted that the greenhorn had courage and determination. 1950, Dorothy M. Johnson, War Shirt; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 107:
2. (ethnic, offensive, qualifier:chiefly Massachusetts, slur) A Portuguese person.
   • She lives in New Bedford, and her dad's not around much and her mum calls her boyfriend a Portagee, a fuckin' greenhorn, 1993, Common Lives, Lesbian Lives- Issues 47-49, page 37:

Forms

Deriveds

greenhornish · greenhornism

Synonyms

newling · greenie · beginner · freshman · bun · noob · newbro · newbie · first-timer · colt · newfag · greenhorn · younker · n00b · alphabetarian · initiate · FNG · newcomer · fresh meat · learner · tenderfoot · probationer · nub · puny · Johnny-come-lately · abecedarian · fledgling · new chum · nubcake · trainee · apprentice · newb · pup · inceptor · homo novus · rookie · tyrone · newfriend · probie · nozzer · novitiate · amateur · greener · novice · probationist · neophyte · tyro · recruit · stranger

Translations (45)

fi märkäkorva (inexperienced person) · fi keltanokka (inexperienced person) · nl melkmuil (inexperienced person) · ja 初学者 (inexperienced person) · da grønskolling (inexperienced person) · cmn 新手 (inexperienced person) · ca passerell (inexperienced person) · es pipiolo (inexperienced person) · ru сала́га (inexperienced person) · de Gelbschnabel (inexperienced person) · ota ملازم (inexperienced person) · hu zöldfülű (inexperienced person) · mi tangata ihu hūpē (inexperienced person) · it pivello (inexperienced person) · ru молокосо́с (inexperienced person) · tl singki (inexperienced person) · es bisoño (inexperienced person) · bg нова́к (inexperienced person) · pl żółtodziób (inexperienced person) · bg аджами́я (inexperienced person) · ja 初心者 (inexperienced person) · is grænjaxl (inexperienced person) · ru новоприбы́вший (inexperienced person) · cmn 初學者 /初学者 (inexperienced person) · pt café com leite (inexperienced person) · es novato (inexperienced person) · de Grünschnabel (inexperienced person) · no grønnskolling (inexperienced person) · ro mucos (inexperienced person) · sv gröngöling (inexperienced person) · nl vlasbaard (inexperienced person) · fr alburostre (inexperienced person) · fr blanc-bec (inexperienced person) · fr béjaune (inexperienced person) · es aprendiz (inexperienced person) · fr bleu (inexperienced person) · es novicio (inexperienced person) · eo flavbekulo (inexperienced person) · cs zelenáč (inexperienced person) · cmn 生手 (inexperienced person) · ja 青二才 (inexperienced person) · tr acemi çaylak (inexperienced person) · ru зелёный (inexperienced person) · ru новичо́к (inexperienced person) · cmn 菜鳥 /菜鸟 (inexperienced person)