Rube

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɹuːb/

Definitions

1. A person who exhibits a lack of sophistication or worldly knowledge is often regarded as naive and easily manipulated by those with more experience in society
2. Someone perceived as inexperienced and simple-minded may be vulnerable to deceit, especially when interacting with more cultured individuals
3. An individual displaying ignorance or simplicity in understanding often falls victim to manipulation by those with greater knowledge and refinement in social contexts

Etymology: The name at the root of "rube" is Reuben, a common given name in the American countryside of the late 19th century. City folk used "Rube" as a generic label for a naive country man, and the name's appeal for this purpose lay in how typical it sounded for a farm boy. Its most famous bearer in the phrase is a rustic stereotype rather than a particular person. The phrase "hey rube" is the key to the word's spread. It was the cry raised by circus workers and carnival men calling for help in a fight, and that call fed the sense of the rural outsider who was easy to cheat or to fool. Carnival and sideshow crowds were full of such marks, so the term fit the trade where it was used most.

Synonyms: country bumpkin, hayseed, hick, bumpkin, naive

Antonyms: sophisticate, expert, insider, urbanite, intellectual