nomad
[noh-mad]
- a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route or circuit according to the state of the pasturage or food supply.
- any wanderer; itinerant.
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Origin of nomad
1580–90; < Latin nomad- < Greek, stem of nomás pasturing flocks, akin to némein to pasture, graze
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for semi-nomad
Historical Examples
In their semi-nomad life the women ride about with the men, and thus become skilled riders.
The Indians of the Painted Desert RegionGeorge Wharton James
nomad
- a member of a people or tribe who move from place to place to find pasture and food
- a person who continually moves from place to place; wanderer
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Word Origin
C16: via French from Latin nomas wandering shepherd, from Greek; related to nemein to feed, pasture
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for semi-nomad
nomad
n.
1550s, from Middle French nomade (16c.), from Latin Nomas (genitive Nomadis) "wandering groups in Arabia," from Greek nomas (genitive nomados, plural nomades) "roaming, roving, wandering" (to find pastures for flocks or herds), related to nomos "pasture, pasturage, grazing," literally "land allotted," and to nemein "put to pasture," originally "deal out," from PIE root *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot" (see nemesis).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper