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unfledged

[uhn-flejd]
See more synonyms for unfledged on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. not fledged; without sufficient feathers for flight, as a young bird.
  2. immature; callow.
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Origin of unfledged

First recorded in 1595–1605; un-1 + fledged
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unfledged

Historical Examples

  • With bird nicknames may be mentioned Callow, unfledged, cognate with Lat.

    The Romance of Names

    Ernest Weekley

  • His heart was full of enterprise and the unfledged valour of inexperience.

    Godolphin, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • Bravely did this young Absalom defend his unfledged royalty.

  • Like the unfledged bird, he spreads his wings, and essays their powers.

    Thoughts on Man

    William Godwin

  • And, as it is with the unfledged schoolboy, after the same manner it is with the man mature.

    Thoughts on Man

    William Godwin

British Dictionary definitions for unfledged

unfledged

adjective
  1. (of a young bird) not having developed adult feathers
  2. immature and undeveloped
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unfledged

adj.

c.1600, of persons, "immature, not experienced," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of fledge. Literal sense of "not yet covered in feathers" is recorded from 1610s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper