callow Hear it!

callow Definition

cal·low (kal′ō)

adjective

  1. still lacking the feathers needed for flying; unfledged
  2. young and inexperienced; immature

Etymology: ME calwe < OE calu, bare, bald < IE base *gal-, bald, naked > L calvus, bald, Czech holý, naked, Ger kahl, bald

callow Related Forms

cal′·low·ness noun

callow Synonyms

callow

modif.

puerile, young, green, immature; see ignorant 2, inexperienced, naive, young 2.

callow Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • youth: Launched in the 60s by a callow youth with a singular vision?
  • boy: What's wrong with debating this in RI like I did when I was a callow grammar school boy back in the seventies?
  • man: Like so many callow young men, I wanted to ally myself with the aforementioned exemplars of rock cool.