Definition
A person who is new, inexperienced, or inexperienced in a particular field or activity, especially used in outdoors contexts like ranching or logging. The term can carry a slightly derogatory tone.
Example Usage
The greenhorn logger made several mistakes on his first day that the veterans quickly corrected.
Origin
Possibly from the color of animal horns that haven't hardened with age, or from the pale complexion of inexperienced outdoor workers.
Fun Fact
The term was particularly common in 19th-century American frontier culture to describe newcomers to frontier life.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “Greenhorn” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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