Greenhand

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A novice or beginner who lacks experience in a particular task or field ; a person new to a job or activity often needing guidance or training ; an individual just starting out and unfamiliar with the nuances of an undertaking
2. Someone who is inexperienced and new to a trade or profession ; a learner or trainee who is still building practical knowledge ; a newcomer to a role or operation requiring assistance and development
3. An unpracticed or fresh participant in a specific area of work ; a person without previous expertise or familiarity in a given domain ; a rookie engaged in learning and gaining initial proficiency in a craft or occupation

Etymology: "Greenhand" is a compound of "green," in its old sense of raw, untried or inexperienced, and "hand," meaning a worker or laborer. The "green" in this sense comes from the idea of something not yet ripe or seasoned, as with green wood that has not dried or a green recruit who has not been tested, and the pairing describes a person who is still unseasoned at a trade. It was used especially for workers on farms, ships and in mills, where a newcomer had to learn the work before being trusted with it. The form is an alternative spelling of "green hand," and the two are the same word written as one compound or two. Either way, the sense has stayed close to its literal roots: a worker who has not yet earned skill, not a person who is necessarily young.

Synonyms: novice, beginner, rookie, newcomer, trainee

Antonyms: expert, veteran, professional, master, experienced