hobo en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- hō'bō
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈhəʉ.bəʉ/ (Australia)
- /ˈhəʊ.bəʊ/ (UK)
- /ˈhoʊ.boʊ/ (US)
Etymology
Unknown. Possibly a contraction of ho, boy or the dialectal English term hawbuck (“lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin”).
Meanings
-
(Canada, US) 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.
2024, Tommy Orange, Wandering Stars, Harvill Secker, page 55:
- (Canada, US) Any migratory laborer, whether homeless or not.
-
A kind of large handbag.
Avoid bulky styles such as duffle sacks, buckets, doctors' satchels, and hobos.
1989, Susan Ludwig, Janice Steinberg, Petite Style, page 46:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hobos | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| hoboes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
hobo spider · hobohemia · hoboglyph · laptop hobo · hobo nickel · hobo jungle · hobo stove · hobolike · hoboism · hobodom · hobo bag · hoboish · hobo stew · hobohemian · murderhobo · hobo egg · hobosexual
Translations (75)
ro sezonieră (migratory worker) · pl bezdomny (homeless person) · fi siirtotyöläinen (migratory worker) · mk се́зонски ра́ботник (migratory worker) · pl bezdomna (homeless person) · es vagabundo (homeless person) · pl kloszard (homeless person) · ca rodamón (homeless person) · ga fear siúil (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pt vagabunda (tramp, vagabond; bum) · nl zwerver (homeless person) · es torrante (tramp, vagabond; bum) · nl leegloper (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pt sazonal (migratory worker) · ro boschetar (homeless person) · th คนจรจัด (homeless person) · th คนพเนจร (tramp, vagabond; bum) · bg скитник (tramp, vagabond; bum) · bg бездомник (homeless person) · grc ἀλήτης (tramp, vagabond; bum) · mk кло́шар (homeless person) · it senzatetto (homeless person) · nl landloper (homeless person) · es guitón (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ro vagabond (homeless person) · pt mendigo (homeless person) · th แรงงานพลัดถิ่น (migratory worker) · fr clochard (homeless person) · nl vagebond (homeless person) · de Obdachloser (homeless person) · nv naʼałjidí (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pl tramp (tramp, vagabond; bum) · nl vagebond (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ja ルンペン (tramp, vagabond; bum) · nv naʼałjidí (homeless person) · pl wagabunda (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pt vagabundo (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ro vagabondă (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ro vagabond (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ru бомж (homeless person) · es torrante (homeless person) · fr clodo (homeless person) · es atorrante (tramp, vagabond; bum) · la errō (tramp, vagabond; bum) · fi pummi (homeless person) · sv vagabond (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pl robotnik sezonowy (migratory worker) · fi pummi (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pt mendiga (homeless person) · sv luffare (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ru бродяга (tramp, vagabond; bum) · de Vagabund (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ro derbedeu (tramp, vagabond; bum) · mk бе́здомник (homeless person) · th คนไร้บ้าน (homeless person) · tr evsiz barksız (homeless person) · ro hoinar (tramp, vagabond; bum) · it vagabondo (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pl robotnica sezonowa (migratory worker) · fi kulkuri (homeless person) · fr vagabond (homeless person) · tl bayabay (tramp, vagabond; bum) · th คนจรจัด (tramp, vagabond; bum) · fr saisonnier (migratory worker) · es vagabundo (tramp, vagabond; bum) · th คนเร่ร่อน (tramp, vagabond; bum) · bg сезонен работник (migratory worker) · ro sezonier (migratory worker) · nl dakloze (homeless person) · es atorrante (homeless person) · mk ски́тник (tramp, vagabond; bum) · pl włóczęga (tramp, vagabond; bum) · ru бездо́мный (homeless person) · la planus (tramp, vagabond; bum) · es bichicome (despective) (homeless person)