rookie
pronunciation
How to pronounce rookie in British English:
UK [ˈrʊki]
How to pronounce rookie in American English:
US [ˈrʊki]
-
- Noun:
- an awkward and inexperienced youth
Word Origin
- rookie (n.)
- "raw recruit," 1892 in that spelling, popularized by Kipling's "Barrack-Room Ballads," of uncertain origin, perhaps from recruit, influenced by rook (n.1) in its secondary sense, suggesting "easy to cheat." Barrère ["A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant," 1890] has "Rookey (army), a recruit; from the black coat some of them wear," so perhaps directly from rook (n.1). Came into general use in American English during the Spanish-American War. The rapid growth of a word from a single seed transplanted in a congenial soil is one of the curiosities of literature. Take a single instance. A few weeks ago there was not one American soldier in a thousand who knew there was such a word as "rookey." To-day there are few soldiers and ex-soldiers who have not substituted it for "raw recruit." ["The Midland Monthly," December 1898]
Example
- 1. Cruise in " rookie " and mcqueen instructs you on how to drive a helpful feature for younger kids .
- 2. Michelle rhee , a rookie superintendent , is an unusual choice to run one of the worst school systems in america .
- 3. Although a rookie on the european tour , the englishman showed no signs of inexperience as he carded seven birdies at binhai lake golf club in tianjin .
- 4. In my rookie days I adhered to " the laundry day " that epic weekly undertaking where you crank out as many loads as possible mostly because you 're out of underwear .
- 5. Parag khanna , who is writing a book about countries on the edge of the rich world that are trying to get rich themselves , describes a bribe-taker he spotted in georgia who he was sure was a rookie .