Wanderjahr

[ vahn-duh r-yahr ]

/ ˈvɑn dərˌyɑr /

noun, plural Wan·der·jah·re [vahn-duh r-yah-ruh] /ˈvɑn dərˌyɑ rə/. German.

a year or period of travel, especially following one's schooling and before practicing a profession.

(formerly) a year in which an apprentice traveled and improved his skills before settling down to the practice of his trade.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wanderjahr

After leaving Russia the young poet spent the rest of his Wanderjahr in Italy.
Life of Robert Browning|William Sharp
A Wanderjahr for the working-man would do much to cement the unity of western civilization.
The Unity of Civilization|Various
After the University and after my wanderjahr, I thought it would be another easy task to come here, and 'learn the business.'
The Return of Peter Grimm|David Belasco
Perchance, my Wanderjahr has not arrived, but you cannot wait for that.
The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, Volume VI, Familiar Letters|Henry David Thoreau

I am reading the "Wanderjahr," having finished the "Lehrjahr."
Records of Later Life|Frances Ann Kemble

British Dictionary definitions for wanderjahr

Wanderjahr

/ German (ˈvandərjaːr) /

noun plural -jahre (-jaːrə)

(formerly) a year in which an apprentice travelled to improve his skills

Word Origin for Wanderjahr

German, literally: wander year

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012