rookie English · revision 1302

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹʊki/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin,^(Etymonline) perhaps an alteration of [[recruit]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) influenced by [[rook]] in the sense of a person easily cheated.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) An 1890 slang dictionary instead linked it to the black coat some recruits wore.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A raw recruit (1868 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) 1892 in Barnhart, the OED and Merriam-Webster).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was popularized by Rudyard Kipling's ''Barrack-Room Ballads'' (1892)^(Etymonline) and came into general American use during the Spanish-American War.^(Etymonline) It was applied to a novice at a sport (1892),^(OED 1989) and especially to a first-year player in a professional team.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1868 – a raw recruit, per Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1892 – in Kipling's ''Barrack-Room Ballads''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1898 – in general American military use.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – attributive use.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An inexperienced recruit, as in the army or police.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A beginner or [[novice]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A first-year player in a professional sport.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[recruit]]

+ * [[rook]]

+ * [[tyro]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}