Hobo

Pronunciation

• enPR: hō'bō, IPA: /ˈhəʊ.bəʊ/
• Rhymes: -əʊbəʊ

Origin

Unknown. Possibly a contraction of ho, boy or the dialectal English term hawbuck ("lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin").

Full definition of hobo

Noun

1. A homeless, usually penniless person, in some way associated with a life along the rails.
2. A migratory laborer
3. (pejorative) A tramp, vagabond; hence bum

Usage notes

Often used attributively, as if an adjective. For example, "hobo stew", "he was leading a hobo life."

Synonyms

Derived terms

• hobohemia
• hoboism
• hobo spider
• hobo stove

Verb

1. (intransitive) To be a hobo, tramp, bum etc.''Joe idly hoboed through half the country till he realized hoboing never gets you anywhere in life.

Anagrams

• boho, Boho