greenhorn

[green-hawrn] /ˈgrinˌhɔrn/
noun
1.
an untrained or inexperienced person.
2.
a naive or gullible person; someone who is easily tricked or swindled.
3.
Slang. a newly arrived immigrant; newcomer.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English; see green, horn; orig. applied to cattle with green (i.e., young) horns
Related forms
greenhornism, noun
Examples from the web for greenhorn
  • The old-time card sharps always let the greenhorn win a few hands early on so he'd up his ante too.
British Dictionary definitions for greenhorn

greenhorn

/ˈɡriːnˌhɔːn/
noun
1.
an inexperienced person, esp one who is extremely gullible
2.
(mainly US) a newcomer or immigrant
Word Origin
C17: originally an animal with green (that is, young) horns
Word Origin and History for greenhorn
n.

mid-15c., "young horned animal," from green (adj.) in sense of "new, fresh, recent" + horn (n.). Applied to new soldiers from c.1650; extended to any inexperienced person by 1680s.

Slang definitions & phrases for greenhorn

greenhorn

noun

An inexperienced person; newcomer; neophyte; rookie (1753+)