vagabond

American  

[vag-uh-bond] / ˈvæg əˌbɒnd /

adjective

1. wandering from place to place without any settled home; nomadic.

   a vagabond tribe.

2. leading an unsettled or carefree life.

3. disreputable; worthless; shiftless.

4. of, relating to, or characteristic of a vagabond.

   vagabond habits.

5. having an uncertain or irregular course or direction.

   a vagabond voyage.

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noun

1. a person, usually without a permanent home, who wanders from place to place; nomad.

2. an idle wanderer without a permanent home or visible means of support; tramp; vagrant.

   Synonyms:

   loafer, hobo

3. a carefree, worthless, or irresponsible person; rogue.

   Synonyms:

   idler, knave

vagabond British  

/ ˈvæɡəˌbɒnd /

noun

1. a person with no fixed home

2. an idle wandering beggar or thief

3. (modifier) of or like a vagabond; shiftless or idle

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Related Words

See vagrant.

Other Word Forms

• vagabondage noun
• vagabondish adjective
• vagabondism noun

Etymology

Origin of vagabond

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English vagabound (from Old French vagabond ), from Late Latin vagābundus “wandering, vagrant,” equivalent to Latin vagā(rī) “to wander” + -bundus adjective suffix

Example Sentences

Also rare: A small model of a vagabond’s carriage from Rolly Crump, who worked on the Haunted Mansion, the Enchanted Tiki Room and It’s a Small World, among other projects.

From Los Angeles Times

“The door was always open, for surfers, people on their way from different countries, vagabonds traveling through that he felt a kindred spirit with,” Proctor recalled.

From Los Angeles Times

A friend unexpectedly hosted a vagabond queen who birthed a litter in their place.

From Salon

Briones, then a student of Ruizpalacios’ acting courses, had a much smaller role as the immigrant restaurant owner demanding his missing funds, and later as a vagabond who wanders into the kitchen.

From Los Angeles Times

They’re defrocking the Mets down to their vagabond shoes that are longing to ... oh, forget it, one shouldn’t need to crib from a corny song to describe what is happening here.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• wanderer