PUBESCENT

downy, pubescent, puberulent, sericeous

(adjective) covered with fine soft hairs or down; “downy milkweed seeds”

pubescent

(adjective) (of animals especially human beings) having arrived at the onset of puberty (the age at which sex glands become functional) but not yet fully mature; “the budding breasts of a pubescent girl and the downy chin of pubescent boy”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Adjective

pubescent (comparative more pubescent, superlative most pubescent)

At or just after the age of puberty.

(botany, zoology) Covered with down or fine hairs.

Noun

pubescent (plural pubescents)

An individual who is going through puberty.

Synonyms

• postpubescent

• See preteen

Source: Wiktionary

---

Pu*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes pubes: cf. F. pubescent.]

1. Arrived at puberty. That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth. Sir T. Browne.

2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---