hobo
noun
- a homeless person
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈhəʊ.bəʊ/ / /ˈhoʊ.boʊ/ / /ˈhəʉ.bəʉ/
noun
Etymology: Unknown. Possibly a contraction of ho, boy or the dialectal English term hawbuck (“lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin”).
- A wandering homeless person, especially (historical) one illegally travelling by rail or (derogatory) a penniless, unemployed bum.
“He’d heard the word hobo used for travelers, heard it was short for homeward bound, or homeless boy, or Hoboken having something to do with New Jersey.”
- Any migratory laborer, whether homeless or not.
- A kind of large handbag.
“Avoid bulky styles such as duffle sacks, buckets, doctors' satchels, and hobos.”
verb
Etymology: Unknown. Possibly a contraction of ho, boy or the dialectal English term hawbuck (“lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin”).
- To be a hobo, tramp, bum etc.
“Joe idly hoboed through half the country till he realized hoboing never gets you anywhere in life.”