Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A newcomer not yet hardened to rough outdoor life; a greenhorn.
- n. An inexperienced person; a novice.
- n. A Boy Scout of the lowest rank.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A new-comer on the plains or in the bush, or one who has not become hardened to the life there; a greenhorn; a novice.
Wiktionary
- n. An inexperienced person; a novice
- n. A newcomer to the region in the old U.S. frontier days.
- n. The lowest rank of Boy Scout.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Slang, Western U. S. A delicate person; one not inured to the hardship and rudeness of pioneer life.
- n. See Boy scout.
WordNet 3.0
- n. an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living)
Etymologies
- tender + foot. Refers to the delicate feet of newcomers to ranching or mining areas. First attested 1866. (Wiktionary)
Examples
“The highest commendatory degree which can be passed upon a man in that country, and the one which distinguishes him from the tenderfoot, is that of being a "sour-dough boy.”
“This was the second time today he'd been called a tenderfoot, and he didn't like it.”
“The first day a tenderfoot is our guest," replied Mollie Long, laughing.”
“Mr. Ashe had been anxiously consulted, for the Eastern boy had no desire to be dubbed a tenderfoot; and now, except for its spotless newness, his costume was quite "Western and ranchified" -- according to Blue”
“The redeeming point of the tenderfoot is his humbleness of spirit and his extreme good nature.”
“It rankled to be called tenderfoot by a slender chit of a woman.”
“I had now little fear of being called a tenderfoot and when I viewed my reflection in the spring I felt quite proud of my appearance.”
“Many a hungry "tenderfoot" has had cause to bless the fortune which led him to her door.”
“It was a big temptation to Job, the biggest the boy had ever known -- to beat Pete; to show off Bess; to prove he was no "tenderfoot" or "kid" any more.”
“The "tenderfoot", as Roy also characterized him, was attired in a light suit, the trousers very much creased.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘tenderfoot’.
-
Redeem Brownie Points Here
Words and terms associated with the Scouting (and Guiding) Movement: Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Cubs, Brownies, Venturers, etc. come one and all!
brownie point, jamboree, spark, lone, girl guide cookie, camp, pathfinder, trex, cub, law of the pack, den, handshake and 42 more...
-
Personal Vocabulary List
All my favourite words that I come across!
veritable, incongruence, rigamorole, letcherous, revolting, repulsive, reputrid, rapatious, forays, guise, placate, paradigm and 1162 more...
-
ktrey's wordlist
Words that I like.
Many may be lexicographically impotent due to a lack of citations and definition. Hopefully I'll be able to rectify this eventually.velleity, dispositive, bloviate, bibulous, fungible, concupiscence, avuncular, carnaptious, thrawn, hypocoristic, diegesis, lagniappe and 928 more...
-
Just 'cause I like 'em, T
torquate, thalassocracy, toothsome, travois, tempestuous, tone, tincture, tripwire, tether, trill, tenacious, travesty and 355 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for tenderfoot.
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.