novice

 
Pronunciation: /ˈnɒvɪs/

noun

  • 1a person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation: he was a complete novice in foreign affairs
  • an animal, especially a racehorse, that has not yet won a major prize or reached a sufficient level of performance to qualify for important events: last season as a novice he won three races [as modifier]: the novice hurdles
  • 2a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows.

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin novicius, from novus 'new'