Added 9 October 2026
rookie
/ˈɹʊki/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about rookie at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- An awkward and inexperienced youth.
Origin
Thought to be an alteration of recruit + -ie, or from rook (“a cheat”) + -ie. Another possible origin is Dutch broekie (short for broekvent (“a boy still in short trousers”)), a common term for a shipmate. Also suggested is Irish rúca (“an inexperienced person”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)