newling

English

Etymology

From new +‎ -ling. Cognate with Dutch nieuweling (“a novice, beginner”), German Neuling (“a novice”).

Noun

newling (plural newlings)

1. One who is new (to something); a newcomer; a novice; a newbie.
   • 1879, Henry Mayhew, The boyhood of Martin Luther:

     " […] Seest thou not by the stripling's face that he be a newling (newcomer) in the town."

   • 2006, Michele Hauf, Rhiana:

     “A newling!” Fascinated, but wary not to stand and reach for it, Rhiana kept her ears pricked—and heard another. A newling and its elder protector.

   • 2012, Elle Jasper, Eventide: The Dark Ink Chronicles:

     Unlike a newling, I have to have air to breathe, and this idiot is squeezing so hard I can barely draw in a breath.

Synonyms

• (new arrival): come-here, comeling, offcomer; see also Thesaurus:newcomer
• (novice): inceptor, neophyte, noob; see also Thesaurus:beginner