apprentice

Etymology

From Middle English apprentice, apprentesse, apprentyse, apprentis, from Old French aprentis, plural of aprentif, from Old French aprendre (verb), Late Latin apprendō, from Classical Latin apprehendō.

noun

1. A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.
   To this end a well-equipped and keenly-run apprentice training school has been in operation at Eastleigh since 1958 and here apprentices are given a good grounding in a number of trades, followed by a thorough training in the trade to which they become allocated. 1961 March, C. P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, page 163
   Scottish rail suppliers have told the Government that they can only reach their target of employing 500 apprentices if they are given a clear pipeline of work, rather than having to endure the current stop-go programme. December 14 2022, “Network News: A pipeline of work key for apprentices”, in RAIL, number 972, page 17
2. (historical) One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a tradesperson, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.
3. (dated) One not well versed in a subject; a tyro or newbie.

verb

1. (transitive) To put under the care and supervision of a master, for the purpose of instruction in a trade or business.
   His father had apprenticed him to a silk merchant.
   He was apprenticed to a local employer.
2. (transitive) To be an apprentice to.
   Joe apprenticed three different photographers before setting up his own studio.