New H.S. student - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "New H.S. student," is a classic example of a straightforward definition found frequently in early-week puzzles. It relies on common American educational slang and is a great confidence-booster for solvers.

Clue Analysis

The clue can be broken down into two key parts:

• "New ... student": This phrase points directly to a first-year student, someone just starting out.
• "H.S.": This is a standard abbreviation for "High School."

Putting it together, the clue is asking for a common term for a first-year high school student. The answer is not the formal term, but a widely used colloquialism.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might approach this clue in a few ways:

1. Direct Definition: The most direct path is to think, "What do we call a new high school student?" The word freshman likely comes to mind first.
2. Slang Ladder: If freshman doesn't fit the letter count, the next logical step is to consider shortened or slang versions. "Freshman" is often clipped to a shorter, more informal term.
3. Consider the Crossings: If you're unsure, getting a few crossing letters can be a huge help. For a five-letter word like this one, seeing an initial 'F' or the 'SH' at the end would almost certainly lead you to the correct answer.

Background Context

The term FROSH is a clipping of the word freshman, which has been used since the 16th century to refer to a novice or a first-year university student. The term "frosh" emerged as student slang in the United States in the late 19th century and remains in common use today, referring to first-year students in both high school and college. It's often used in phrases like "frosh week" (an orientation period for new students) or "the frosh dorms."

Conclusion

This clue is a perfect example of how crossword puzzles test not just vocabulary, but also cultural literacy and knowledge of common abbreviations and slang. "New H.S. student" is a clean, direct path to the answer FROSH, making it a satisfying solve for beginners and a quick fill for experienced puzzlers.

Hints

1. Hint 1: This term refers to a first-year student.
2. Hint 2: It's a slang or shortened version of a more formal term for a ninth-grader or college first-year.
3. Hint 3: Think of the word "freshman". This is a clipped version of that word.
4. Hint 4: The term rhymes with "mosh".

The answer is FROSH.