callow

views updated May 21 2018

cal·low / ˈkalō/ • adj. (esp. of a young person) inexperienced and immature.DERIVATIVES: cal·low·ly adv.cal·low·ness n.ORIGIN: Old English calu ‘bald ’; probably from Latin calvus ‘bald.’ This was extended to mean ‘unfledged,’ which led to the present sense ‘immature.’

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

callow

views updated May 21 2018

callow †bald OE.; unfledged XVI. OE. calu (calw-) = MLG. kale, MDu. kale (Du. kaal), OHG. kalo (G. kahl) :- WGmc. *kalwa, perh. — L. calvus bald.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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