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.’

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.

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