hobo
1. Originally referred to poor, homeless itinerant workers in the USA. These original hobos travelled from town to town seeking temporary employment, usually along the lines of physical labour. They are traditionally associated with freighthopping (illegally riding in the carriages of freight trains). See also drifter, vagabond and okie.
2. Nowadays commonly used throughout the English-speaking world to refer to any homeless person. See also bum, tramp and beggar.
2. Nowadays commonly used throughout the English-speaking world to refer to any homeless person. See also bum, tramp and beggar.
Example:
Traditional hobos are often romanticized in popular culture, for example in the books "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and in the music of Woody Guthrie.
The portrayal of modern homeless people, however, is usually much less favourable, with a widespread belief that homelessness is self-inflicted and that these "bums" should "just get jobs".
Traditional hobos are often romanticized in popular culture, for example in the books "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and in the music of Woody Guthrie.
The portrayal of modern homeless people, however, is usually much less favourable, with a widespread belief that homelessness is self-inflicted and that these "bums" should "just get jobs".