fledgling
FLEJ-lingadjMeaning new and inexperienced, like a young bird learning to fly
Memory hook a FLEDGLING bird: first wobbly flight. Like a baby bird on its first wobbly flight, Kai’s brand-new lemonade stand is just getting started. It is a fledgling business.
The fledgling pilot gripped the controls nervously on her very first solo flight.
In context The fledgling theater company had no stage of its own yet, so its first play was performed in a borrowed barn with hay bales for seats.
Similar new, inexperienced, budding, untested
Opposite established, experienced, veteran
From fledge, “to grow the feathers needed to fly,” + -ling, as in duckling.