tenderfoot
|ten-der-foot|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɛndərfʊt/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɛndəfʊt/
soft-footed newcomer
Etymology
'tenderfoot' originates from American English, a compound of 'tender' (meaning 'soft' or 'delicate') and 'foot' (meaning 'one who walks' or literally 'foot'), first recorded in the early 19th century in the United States.
'tenderfoot' developed in frontier and colloquial speech to describe someone unaccustomed to rough outdoor travel; over time the term broadened from a mostly literal sense to a figurative one for any inexperienced person and was later adopted as a scouting rank.
Initially it meant 'a person with tender (sore or delicate) feet' (a literal physical condition), but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'an inexperienced person or newcomer' and specialized uses such as the scouts' rank.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an inexperienced person; a novice or newcomer (often used for someone new to outdoor life or a particular activity).
He's a tenderfoot at hiking, so don't expect him to keep up with the rest of the group.
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Noun 2
a specific early rank in scouting organizations (e.g., Boy Scouts), indicating a newcomer has achieved basic requirements.
She earned her Tenderfoot badge last summer and joined the troop's regular hikes.
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Noun 3
(archaic/original) Someone whose feet were tender or unaccustomed to rough walking; used literally before it became figurative.
In frontier accounts the term 'tenderfoot' was used for city visitors whose feet became sore after long walks.
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Last updated: 2025/12/12 17:34