hobo
Americannoun
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a tramp or vagrant.
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a migratory worker.
noun
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a tramp; vagrant
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a migratory worker, esp an unskilled labourer
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hobo
An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; origin uncertain
Explanation
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. No one is certain where the word came from, although there are a couple of educated guesses. One possible origin is the English word hawbuck, which means "country bumpkin," while another is the common working man's greeting or call during the building of the railroads in the West, ho, boy!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Casual and escalated into Saafir’s crew Hobo Junction taking on all of Hieroglyphics.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2024
Folk Machine, a label from Kenny Likitprakong’s Hobo Wine Company, specializes in moderately priced, easygoing bottles that are nonetheless interesting.
From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2021
William Dolittle Weariman, a fictional hobo featured in the Chicago Tribune’s 1910 “What Did the Hobo Say? $5 For the Wittiest Answer” contest.
From Slate • Jan. 19, 2020
“You got the same father I got – a Hobo just left on a midnight train,” one letter said.
From Seattle Times • May 8, 2018
There were some more conventional pets, too: Tana, a beautiful white and lemon cocker spaniel who was given to me, and Hobo, a springer spaniel I looked after for a friend.
From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
