newbie

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*nu
2. Proto-Indo-European*néwos
3. Proto-Germanic*niwjaz
4. Proto-West Germanic*niwi
5. Old Englishnīewe
6. Middle Englishnewe
7. Englishnew
8. Englishnewieder.?
9. Englishnew
10. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
11. Proto-Germanic*buranaz
12. Proto-West Germanic*boran
13. Old Englishboren, ġeboren
14. Middle Englishborn, boren, borne, iborne
15. Englishborn
16. Englishnewborn
17. Proto-Indo-European*bʰā-
18. Proto-Germanic*bō-redup.
19. Proto-Germanic*babô
20. Proto-West Germanic*babō
21. Old English*baba
22. Middle Englishbabe
23. Middle Englishbaby
24. Englishbaby
25. Englishnewder.?
26. Proto-Germanic*bō-
27. Proto-West Germanic*bōjō
28. Old English*bōia
29. Middle Englishboye
30. Englishboyder.?
31. English todaynewbie

Uncertain — perhaps an alteration of newie with intrusive b (compare freebie); possibly a blend of newborn + baby; or perhaps a shortening of new boy or new beginner.

First known use, by meaning

• from 20th c. A newcomer or neophyte, someone new to something.