different between upstart vs greenhorn

English

Etymology

From Middle English upstarten, upsterten, equivalent to up- +? start.

Noun

upstart (plural upstarts)

1. One who has suddenly gained wealth, power, or other prominence, but either has not received social acceptance or has become arrogant or presumptuous.

   • upstarts […] they call in reproach mushrooms
2. The meadow saffron.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Dr. Prior to this entry?)

Synonyms

• arriviste
• nouveau riche
• parvenu

Translations

Adjective

upstart (comparative more upstart, superlative most upstart)

1. Acting like a parvenu.
2. self-important and presumptuous.

Translations

Verb

upstart (third-person singular simple present upstarts, present participle upstarting, simple past and past participle upstarted)

1. to rise suddenly, to spring

Anagrams

• start up, start-up, startup

English

Etymology

Unconfirmed. Hypotheses include:

• Middle English grene horne, the horn of a newly slaughtered animal
• From the reference to an animal with green (that is, young) horns
• From 17th-century jewellery manufacturing, which used decorated horn impressed at a specific temperature. If heated too high (a common mistake by apprentices), the horn turned green.
• From a misappropriation of the German expression "grün hinter den Ohren" (to be green behind the ears).

Noun

greenhorn (plural greenhorns)

1. (chiefly US) an inexperienced person; a novice, beginner or newcomer

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:beginner

Derived terms

• greenhornism

Translations