rookie

/ˈɹʊki/

rookie

English Noun Top 7,564

American (Lessac) (medium)

Female 0.6s

American (Amy) (medium)

Female 0.6s

American (Ryan) (medium)

Male 0.3s

Definition

An inexperienced recruit, especially in the police or armed forces.

Etymology

Thought to be an alteration of recruit + -ie, or from rook (“a cheat”) + -ie. Another possible origin is Dutch broekie (short for broekvent (“a boy still in short trousers”)), a common term for a shipmate. Also suggested is Irish rúca (“an inexperienced person”).