A fledgling is a young bird that has just grown enough feathers to fly. It can also describe a person or organization that is new and inexperienced.
“Fledgling” comes from “fledge,” which means “to grow feathers needed for flying,” plus the suffix “-ling,” often used for young or small things. It originally referred strictly to birds.
Calling a startup a “fledgling company” paints a picture of a bird wobbling on the edge of the nest, trying its first flight. The word carries both risk and hope at the same time.
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