This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply. Merriam-Webster: Padawan is a word that is being used more and more in a generic way to refer to learners, followers, or anyone just starting out. It was used in Star Wars: Episode I, the first of the prequels made by George Lucas and released in 1999, and refers to aspiring Jedi knights whose education is overseen by a Jedi master. […] At any rate, what’s notable is that they are creating a new category of skilled pre-professional positions, and have found a word that corresponds to it. Whether or not the name sticks is a good question: it will take several years of gathering evidence to see whether or not this is the word we’re looking for. Expand - View Original
Huh. I didn't realise it was coined in Phantom Menace. I assumed it was always a part of lore. But then that makes sense if the people who saw Phantom Menace in cinemas are adults now.