vagrant en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈveɪɡɹənt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (UK) audio
Etymology
From Late Middle English vagraunt (“person without proper employment; person without a fixed abode, tramp, vagabond”) [and other forms], probably from Anglo-Norman vagarant, wakerant, waucrant (“vagrant”) [and other forms] and Old French walcrant, waucrant (“roaming, wandering”) [and other forms], perhaps influenced by Latin vagārī, the present active infinitive of vagor (“to ramble, stroll about; to roam, rove, wander”). Old French walcrant is the present participle of vagrer, wacrer, walcrer (“to wander, wander about as a vagabond”) [and other forms], from Frankish *walkrōn (“to wander about”), the frequentative form of *walkōn (“to walk; to wander; to stomp, trample; to full (make cloth denser and firmer by soaking, beating and pressing)”), from Proto-Germanic *walkōną (“to roll about, wallow; to full”), *walkaną (“to turn, wind; to toss; to roll, roll about; to wend; to walk; to wander; to trample; to full”), from Proto-Indo-European *walg-, *walk-, *welgʰ-, *welk-, *wolg- (“to turn, twist; to move”), ultimately from *welH- (“to turn; to wind”). The English word is cognate with Latin valgus (“bandy-legged, bow-legged”), Middle Dutch walken (“to knead; to full”), Old English wealcan (“to roll”), ġewealcan (“to go; to walk about”), Old High German walchan, walkan (“to move up and down; to press together; to full; to walk; to wander”), Old Norse valka (“to wander”). See further at walk.
Meanings
- (dated) A person who wanders from place to place; a nomad, a wanderer.
-
(specifically) A person without settled employment or habitation who usually supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means; a tramp, a vagabond.
Among vagrants are to be found thieves of every description, as well as a numerous host of the rankest impostors. [...] A great number amongst these daring impostors have been brought up vagrants from their infancy, and such as are bred up to it are naturally the most clever in acts of thieving, or in imposing upon the public.
[1842], An Exposure of the Various Impositions Daily Practised, by Vagrants of Every Description, Birmingham, Warwickshire: […] J. Taylor, […], →OCLC, page 4:Every morning before work, I see that poor vagrant around the neighbourhood begging for food.
'Tis the cruel gripe / That lean hard-handed poverty inflicts, / The hope of better things, the chance to win, / The wiſh to ſhine, the thirſt to be amuſed, / That at the found of Winter's hoary wing, / Unpeople all our counties, of ſuch herds, / Of flutt'ring, loit'ring, cringing, begging, looſe / And wanton vagrants, as make London, vaſt / And boundleſs as it is, a crowded coop.
1785, William Cowper, “Book III. The Garden.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC, page 133:The most prominent body of delinquents in the rural districts are vagrants, and these vagrants appear to consist of two classes: first, the habitual depradators, house-breakers, horse-stealers, and common thieves; secondly, of vagrants, properly so called, who seek alms as mendicants.
1839, “Description of the Depredations Committed, and Habits of the Migratory Depredators”, in First Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire as to the Best Means of Establishing an Efficient Constabulary Force in the Counties of England and Wales, London: Charles Knight and Co., […], →OCLC, § 19, page 21:If it appear to the Juſtice by the confeſſion of the Vagrant, or by the Oath of one Witneſs, that he had no lawful Settlement ſince his Birth, and that he hath committed Acts of Vagrancy, or hath been a common Beggar, or Vagrant, for two Years laſt paſt, [...] then inſtead of puniſhing him, the Juſtice, or Juſtices, may bind him Apprentice for ſeven Years to the Perſon who apprehends him, or to any other Perſon who will receive him, and employ him in Great Britain, or in any of his Majeſty's Plantations.
1729, W[illiam] Nelson, “Vagrants”, in The Office and Authority of a Justice of Peace: […], 10th edition, [London]: […] E[lizabeth] and R[ichard] Nutt, and R. Gosling, (assigns of Edward Sayer, Esq;) for J. Walthoe, […], →OCLC, page 708:
- Any member of the species Vagrans egista of widely distributed Asian butteflies of the family Nymphalidae.
- (especially) An animal, typically a bird, found outside its species' usual range.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| vagrants | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
vagrance · vagrantize · vagrom · vagrantly · vagrantlike · vagrancy · vagrantness · vagrantism
Relateds
Synonyms
hobo · swaggie · pike · vagrant · down-and-out · nomad · derelict · rough sleeper · rambler · gadling · gadling · landlouper · down-and-outer · wanderer · stiff · rover · rogue · epithite · stroller · itinerant · saunterer · itinerant · palliard · drifter · yagger · scatterling · peregrinator · waif · toerag · flaneur · hobo · skell · skelder · walke-street · bum · swagman · straggler · stroller · clochard · vagabond · rolling stone · wanderer · paker · tramp · dero · Jack out of doors · landleaper · landloper · rover · nomad · truant · piker · stumblebum · drifter · floater · casual · knight of the road · ambler · vagrant · ranger
Translations (170)
mi kōripi (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · nl zwerfster (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · fr erratique (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · cs tulák (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · bg бродя́га (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Landstreicher (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · nb reisende (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ga fuaidire (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · cmn 浪人 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · cmn 流浪漢 /流浪汉 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ja 放浪者 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · la errō (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · th กุ๊ย (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · de Gammlerin (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · is flækingur (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · pl włóczykij (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · gl palanquina (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · it vagabonda (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · mi tangata hākoke (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ro hoinar (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ru стра́нник (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · fr clodo (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ga jaingléir (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fr clodotte (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · it viandante (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · de Vagabund (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pt andarilho (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · es vagabundo (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi murare (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · nl zwerver (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fi kulkuri (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · de Sandlerin (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mk бе́здомник (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · tr derbeder kimse (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · hi आवारा (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mk ски́тник (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · nl zwerver (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · it vagabondo (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · it vagabondo (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · cs pobuda (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · th กุ๊ย (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Nichtsesshafter (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ur آوارَہ (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · nl vagebond (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · gl palanquín (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · hu csavargó (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fa سلندر (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Sandler (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · cmn 彩蛺蝶屬 /彩蛱蝶属 (Vagrans egista) · is flækingur (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · ru бомжи́ха (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi kaipaoe (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · sh klòšār (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · is flækingur (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Landstreicher (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · el αλήτης (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · de Ausnahmegast (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · fa خانهبهدوش (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · cmn 無業遊民 /无业游民 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Vagantin (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · es vagabundo (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · cmn 遊民 /游民 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pl wardęga (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi kaiparo (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · fi kulkuri (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · sco rinabout (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi whakatipi (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · pt errante (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · tr aylak (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pl łazior (Kraków) (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Gammler (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · nl zwabber (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ro hoinar (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · it girovago (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · mi murare (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · el αλήτης (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · is flakkari (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · el αλήτισσα (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · th จรจัด (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Nichtsesshafte (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi kaipāwe (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · sh hȁhār (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · hu vándor (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · is flækingsfugl (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · nl dwaalgast (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · sv lösdrivare (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pt vagabunda (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · es vagabunda (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · sh ха̏ха̄р (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ka მოხეტიალე (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fr clodote (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · bg бездомник (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fr vagabonde (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · msb bugóy (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi kaikora (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · fa ویلان (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Vagabundin (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · it barbona (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · cmn 迷鳥 /迷鸟 (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · mi kōripi (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fi irtolainen (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi tangata hākoke (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · de Landstreicherin (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · cmn 流丐 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · it girovago (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ja 天竺浪人 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi kaipāwe (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · bn দাহার (Vagrans egista) · cmn 流浪漢 /流浪汉 (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · cmn 遊民 /游民 (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ru бомж (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ka მაწანწალა (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi kaipaoe (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ru бродя́га (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fi vierailija (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · it barbone (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pa ਅਵਾਰਾ (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ja 浮巣鳥 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · nl zwerfster (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fi mierolainen (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · nl dakloze (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · tr serseri (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ru скита́лица (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · pt andarilho (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · sv lösdriverska (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · grc ἀλήτης (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ro vagabond (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · tr serseri (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · mi kaiparo (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · bg скитник (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · it vagabonda (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · cs vagabund (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ro vagabond (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · th คนจรจัด (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ga rásaí (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · tpi pasindia (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ga jaingléir (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · is flakkari (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · af boemelaar (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mk ски́талец (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · fr vagabond (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · pt vagabundo (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · mi whakatipi (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ka მოხეტიალე (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · de Vagant (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Landstreicherin (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · hu vándormadár (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · grc ᾰ̓λᾱζών (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ga fánaí (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · fr vagabond (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · gl maleta (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pt andarilha (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ja 無頼 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ru скита́лец (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ncj ohtocani (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · sh кло̀ша̄р (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pl włóczęga (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · es vagabunda (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · dsb dundak (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · mi kaikora (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · tl yagít (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · ja 放浪者 (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · ru стра́нница (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · la vargus (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · fr vagabonde (person who wanders from place to place — see also nomad, wanderer) · cmn 江湖 (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · el αλήτισσα (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · pl drapichrust (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond) · de Irrgast (animal found outside its species’ usual range) · pt andarilha (person without settled employment or habitation who supports himself or herself by begging or some dishonest means — see also tramp, vagabond)