rookie
UK[ˈrʊki]US[ˈrʊki]
n
A person who is new to and has little experience in an activity, job, or situation, especially a sport or the military.
Etymology
The word 'rookie' originated in American English in the late 19th century, likely as an alteration of the word 'recruit'. The term was first popularized in military slang to refer to a new soldier. Its logic is one of simple, informal designation for a newcomer. The phonetic shift from 'recruit' to 'rookie' represents a common process of clipping and modification in colloquial speech. From its military beginnings, the term was seamlessly adopted into sports jargon and later into general use to describe any novice, carrying with it the connotations of inexperience and initiation common to its original context.
Analysis
The word 'rookie' is a simplex word. It does not break down into meaningful morphemes based on its modern English spelling. It functions as a single, indivisible unit.
Examples
The veteran players took the rookie under their wing.
She made a classic rookie mistake during her first week on the job.
The team's performance will depend heavily on how quickly their rookies adapt.