callow
UK[ˈkæləʊ]US[ˈkæloʊ]
adj
Lacking adult maturity or experience; immature.
Etymology
The word 'callow' originates from the Old English calu, meaning "bald" or "bare." This literal sense was applied to young birds that were still without feathers. Over time, the meaning broadened metaphorically from a physical state of being uncovered or undeveloped to describe a person who is inexperienced, lacking the figurative "covering" or "plumage" of adult wisdom and sophistication. Thus, the journey from a concrete description of a fledgling to an abstract characterization of human immobility illustrates a classic path of semantic evolution.
Analysis
This word is a simplex. It is a loanword from Old English calu, meaning "bald," which is of Germanic origin and related to Dutch kaal and German kahl.
Examples
He was a callow youth when he first joined the company.
The film portrays the callow idealism of the young protagonist.
Her callow remarks betrayed a lack of real-world experience.