Others claim it came from the soldiers returning from the Civil War, who were "Homeward Bound." Some suggest it is from the congenial greeting "Hello boy" that changed to "Lo boy" and "Lo bo" and finally to "Ho bo." Others think it came from the word hoosier, meaning a rustic individual, a frontiersman.
The term emerged in the American West around 1890, though its origins are hazy. Some say it was an abbreviation of “homeward bound” or “homeless boy”; author Bill Bryson wrote in his 1998 book “Made in America” that it may have come from “Ho, beau!”, a railroad greeting.
Be careful when you call a vagrant or homeless person a hobo — although this is exactly what the word means, it is a somewhat offensive term. The end of the nineteenth century brought the start of the word hobo in the Western United States.
noun,plural ho·bos, ho·boes. a tramp or vagrant.
Etymology : The term 'ho' is probably a shortening of the word 'whore,' which comes the Old English 'hore' meaning 'prostitute, harlot. ' The term 'bag' comes from the Old Norse term 'baggi' or from a similar Scandinavian source. Its use a derogatory slang for a woman has been attested since 1924.
Today's hobos are gutter punks and anarchists, crusty kids and societal dropouts trying to piece together an existence outside of civil society. And the best way to get there is to hop a train. Contents. The Original Hobos.
A bum is homeless, he does not travel and does not work. A bum is irresponsible, shiftless and often an alcoholic. The term bum is an American term that appears during the American Civil War, probably taken from the German slang word bummler, meaning loafer.
Swaggie: swagman. Swagman: tramp, hobo.
Bo, boes - A slang term used to describe an experienced hobo. A term for a pal, “Hey, bo” Originally meant a natural exclamiation intended to surprise or frighten. Bo chaser - A freight brakeman or railroad policeman. Boes - A slang term for hobo.
According to her, female hobos have their own wanderlust, including their own transient work practices, such as sex work, that come with the risk of disease and the added "hazard" of potential pregnancy (Reitman 1937, 285).
Female hobos, also known as “hobo women,” were a common sight during the Great Depression in the United States. Many female hobos were single mothers who had lost their homes and means of support. Female hobos often traveled with their children and were known for their resourcefulness and resilience.
According to Bonikowski, in media coverage and literature, words like 'unhoused' and 'unsheltered' are often used with more positive connotations than 'homeless,' such as referring to “unhoused neighbors.” Referring to people “experiencing homelessness” or being unhoused or unsheltered can imply a worldview that sees ...
“Unsheltered.” That term is often used colloquially to refer to the entire homeless population, but in city- and county-speak, it refers only to a subset of that group: people who aren't consistently sleeping in places like city-run homeless shelters.
Vagrant – Unlike hobos, vagrants tend to live on the streets in one specific area, most commonly in cities (i.e. New York). Vagrants are more prone to traveling with their belongings on the streets or in temporary shelters. Hobo – Compared to vagrants, hobos maintain a much more nomadic lifestyle.
bo-ette - a female hobo.
Leon Ray Livingston (1872–1944) was a famous hobo and author, travelling under the name "A-No. 1" and often referred to as "The Rambler." He perfected the hobo symbols system, which let other hobos know where there are generous people, free food, jobs, vicious dogs, and so forth.
If you didn't know hoboes still existed, you're not alone — but you're simply not looking in the right places. On your commute across the I-35W bridge or your pause along the Wayzata railroad tracks, you may very well be crossing paths with one who chooses to ride under the radar.
2. sheila – woman or female.
Mozzie: short for mosquito. No drama/s: this is Aussie speak for no problem.
Bogan: Australian slang for a person whose speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour are unrefined or unsophisticated.
Tramp is an insulting word for a woman who is thought to have many sexual partners.
down-and-out. drifter. hobo. homeless person. shopping-bag lady.
That neighborhood centered around one street in Chicago would become known as Hobohemia, and Chicago would forever be known as the Hobo Capital of The World.
Hobo: One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood. Homeless person: one who has no home or haven.