redshirt
UK[ˈredʃɜːt]US[ˈredʃɜːrt]
n
a college athlete who is withdrawn from varsity competition for a year to develop skills and extend eligibility.
n
a new or inexperienced person, especially in a military or corporate context.
v
to withdraw (a college athlete) from varsity competition for a year to extend eligibility.
Morpheme Breakdown
red
shirt
red
shirt
Etymology
the term 'redshirt' is a compound word formed from two old english elements, 'read' (red) and 'scyrte' (shirt). its modern, specialized meaning originated in american college sports during the 1950s, where athletes practicing with the team but not playing in games would wear distinctive red shirts to distinguish them from eligible players. this literal practice of wearing a red shirt evolved into an abstract verb and noun describing the act and status of delaying an athlete's competitive participation to prolong their eligibility. the term has since been extended metaphorically to other fields, such as the military or business, to denote a newcomer or someone in a probationary period.
Analysis
Structure: red + shirt
red (old english, color term); shirt (old english, garment)
Examples
the promising quarterback was redshirted his freshman year to give him more time to develop.
as a redshirt, she could practice with the team but not compete in official matches.
in his first month, he felt like a corporate redshirt, learning the ropes without major responsibilities.