Rookie

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Grammarist

The word rookie was popularized in the 1890s in a work by Rudyard Kipling, though it was probably in use before that time. We will examine the definition of the word rookie, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences.

A rookie is a new member of an organization, someone new to a job or group, someone without experience or a new recruit in a military organization or sports team. A rookie is a novice. The word rookie appeared sometime in the late nineteenth century, and is most probably a twist on the words recruit and rook. The word rook may be used to mean someone who may be easily cheated. The term rookie was popularized by Rudyard Kipling’s Barrack-Room Ballads: “So ‘ark an’ ‘eed, you rookies, which is always grumblin’ sore…” In this case, the rookies are new recruits to the British Army. The plural form of rookie is rookies.

Examples

If his first game back was any indication, Orlando Magic rookie forward Jonathan Isaac’s return from a lingering ankle injury will be a diligent process. (The Orlando Sentinel)

Devils rookie Nico Hischier didn’t meet Wild winger Nino Niederreiter until last summer, at the Swiss Ice Hockey Awards in Switzerland, but Hischier was well aware of Niederreiter before that. (The MInneapolis Star Tribune)

Byrne was commemorated Wednesday morning inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Timothy Cardinal Dolan noted the lasting impact of the rookie cop’s murder on Feb. 26, 1988. (The New York Daily News)

I learned that our class earned some notoriety as we advanced through our elementary years – the sixth grade permutation of students combined with a rookie teacher in way over his head earned us the moniker “The Class from Hell” amongst the pool of substitutes who dreaded filling in even for one day amongst the chaos. (The St. Albert Gazette)