greenhorn

== English == === Alternative forms === green-horn, green horn (obsolete) === 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. === Pronunciation === enPR: grēn′hôrn′ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹiːnˌhɔːɹn/ (General American, Canada, Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹinˌhoɹn/ (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹiːnˌhoːɹn/ (India) IPA(key): /ˈɡɾiːnˌhoːɾn/ Rhymes: -iːnhɔː(ɹ)n Hyphenation: green‧horn === Noun === greenhorn (plural greenhorns) (chiefly US) An inexperienced person; a novice, beginner, or newcomer. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:beginner (chiefly Massachusetts, ethnic slur, offensive) A Portuguese person. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === “greenhorn”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.