Striplings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Young individuals, typically in their teens or early adulthood
2. those who are inexperienced or immature in their behavior or outlook
3. adolescents who are beginning to engage with adult responsibilities and experiences

Etymology: "Striplings" is the plural of "stripling," and the singular has a surprising sense of its own: a youth still slim and not yet fully grown. The word appears to be built from "strip," meaning a long narrow piece, with the diminutive suffix "-ling," so the image is of something thin and narrow that has not yet filled out. The verb behind "strip" carries a different, bolder sense. Middle English "strepen" meant to undress, peel off, skin an animal, or even plunder. The "stripling" idea may have grown from that notion of something stripped and lean, yet still on its way to full size. The connection is possible rather than certain, so the lineage is best read as a plausible reconstruction.

Synonyms: youths, youngsters, teenagers, juveniles, adolescents

Antonyms: adults, elders, seniors, grown-ups, mature individuals