hobo

[ hoh-boh ]

noun

, plural ho·bos, ho·boes.

1. a tramp or vagrant.
2. a migratory worker.

hobo

/ ˈhəʊbəʊ /

noun

1. a tramp; vagrant
2. a migratory worker, esp an unskilled labourer

Derived Forms

• ˈhoboism, noun

Other Words From

• hobo·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobo¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobo¹

C19 (US): origin unknown

Example Sentences

The network once demanded that they change the line “that albino stole my midget” to “that madman stole my hobo.”

From Los Angeles Times

Japanese officials, lawmakers and media outlets have taken to referring to “moshi Tora” — “if Trump” — or even “hobo Tora,” which roughly translates to “probably Trump,” using an abbreviation of the name of the former president and current Republican candidate.

From New York Times

Segarra, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was raised in the Bronx and left home at 17, first living in a Philadelphia squat and eventually relocating to New Orleans, where they busked in a motley hobo band called the Dead Man Street Orchestra.

From New York Times

Texas is defying the Supreme Court, so that’s very good for the whole constitutional-order thing; a recently powerful House member is transitioning into his new career as a hobo; and the Arizona GOP lit itself on fire for old time’s sake.

From Slate

A week later, the 400-seat Vista will open for business with a run of Eli Roth‘s new turkeysploitation horror movie “Thanksgiving,” which joins 2010’s “Machete” and 2011’s “Hobo With a Shotgun” as the third feature to be expanded from fake trailers originally seen in Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s 2007 “Grindhouse.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drifter
• homeless person
• tramp
• unhoused person
• wanderer