hobo meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

hobo

noun

UK /ˈhəʊ.bəʊ/ · US /ˈhoʊ.boʊ/

Etymology Unknown. Possibly a contraction of ho, boy or the dialectal English term hawbuck (“lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin”).

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:

Derived terms: hobo bag, hobodom, hobo egg, hoboglyph, hobohemia, hobohemian, hoboish, hoboism, hobo jungle, hobolike, hobosexual, hobo spider, hobo stew, hobo stove, laptop hobo, murderhobo

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.

Perhaps pejorative

Joe idly hoboed through half the country till he realized hoboing never gets you anywhere in life.