1. Originally referred to poor, homeless itinerant workers in the USA. These original hobos travelled from town to town seeking temporary employment, usually along the lines of physical labour. They are traditionally associated with freighthopping (illegally riding in the carriages of freight trains). See also drifter, vagabond and okie.
2. Nowadays commonly used throughout the English-speaking world to refer to any homeless person. See also bum, tramp and beggar.
2. Nowadays commonly used throughout the English-speaking world to refer to any homeless person. See also bum, tramp and beggar.
Traditional hobos are often romanticized in popular culture, for example in the books "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and in the music of Woody Guthrie.
The portrayal of modern homeless people, however, is usually much less favourable, with a widespread belief that homelessness is self-inflicted and that these "bums" should "just get jobs".
The portrayal of modern homeless people, however, is usually much less favourable, with a widespread belief that homelessness is self-inflicted and that these "bums" should "just get jobs".
by backpacker_x2 February 15, 2011
1. In France, "métis" is a general word referring to anyone who is mixed race.
2. In Canada and the northern USA, the Métis are a distinct ethnic group, descended from French and Scottish men who married Amerindian (mostly Cree, Ojibwa and Algonquin) women.
2. In Canada and the northern USA, the Métis are a distinct ethnic group, descended from French and Scottish men who married Amerindian (mostly Cree, Ojibwa and Algonquin) women.
There are around 390,000 people in Canada who identify as belonging to the Métis people: around 1.3% of the Canadian population.
by backpacker_x2 February 01, 2011
1. <noun> A person from New Zealand. The term is very commonly used because the alternative, "New Zealander", is perceived as being kind of long and cumbersome.
2. <adjective> From, of or relating to New Zealand. This term is very commonly used because the country of New Zealand doesn't really have any other adjective ("New Zealandic" or "New Zealandish" are not correct).
3. <noun> A small, brown flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand. A common national symbol for New Zealand.
4. <noun> A fruit (also known as a "kiwifruit", a "Chinese gooseberry" or a "melonette") which originates from southern China, but is today grown in many parts of the world, notably Italy and New Zealand.
2. <adjective> From, of or relating to New Zealand. This term is very commonly used because the country of New Zealand doesn't really have any other adjective ("New Zealandic" or "New Zealandish" are not correct).
3. <noun> A small, brown flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand. A common national symbol for New Zealand.
4. <noun> A fruit (also known as a "kiwifruit", a "Chinese gooseberry" or a "melonette") which originates from southern China, but is today grown in many parts of the world, notably Italy and New Zealand.
1. Kiwis have cooler accents than Aussies!
2. A Kiwi family moved in next door.
3. I'd love to see a kiwi in the wild.
4. A single kiwi isn't much of a lunch!
2. A Kiwi family moved in next door.
3. I'd love to see a kiwi in the wild.
4. A single kiwi isn't much of a lunch!
by backpacker_x2 March 22, 2011
1. London's a really multicultural city: only about half the population are "White British" and some 300 different languages are spoken by inhabitants of the city!
2. My dad's Greek and my mum's half-Chinese, half-Iroquois, and I was raised in South Africa but went to university in Switzerland, so I guess I'm pretty multicultural!
2. My dad's Greek and my mum's half-Chinese, half-Iroquois, and I was raised in South Africa but went to university in Switzerland, so I guess I'm pretty multicultural!
by backpacker_x2 February 01, 2011
Brainfeeder is a musical collective and record label based in California, USA. Its output is generally innovative music based in hip-hop and electronica, though often avoiding precise pigeon-holing. Flying Lotus is generally considered to be the group's leader. The Brainfeeder sound is associated with the terms wonky, glitch and glitch-hop, though it is often simply referred to as beat music or just beats.
Artists associated with Brainfeeder include Flying Lotus, Gonjasufi, The Gaslamp Killer, Tokimonsta, Ras G, Lorn, Teebs, Samiyam, Daedelus and Mono/Poly.
by backpacker_x2 March 07, 2011
Originally a derogatory term for Romani people, who were known by the British population as gypsies because it was falsely believed that they originated from Egypt.
With the arrival of Irish Travellers in Britain, the terms "gyppo" and "gypsy" were also applied to these people.
Nowadays the term "gyppo", like "pikey", is often used as an insult to refer to anyone who is perceived to be poor, dirty, smelly and/or inclined to theft.
With the arrival of Irish Travellers in Britain, the terms "gyppo" and "gypsy" were also applied to these people.
Nowadays the term "gyppo", like "pikey", is often used as an insult to refer to anyone who is perceived to be poor, dirty, smelly and/or inclined to theft.
by backpacker_x2 January 28, 2011
A mildly derogatory term used by Australians and Kiwis to refer to the English people. The term originates from the abbreviation "PoHM", which stood for "Prisoner of Her Majesty" and was used to describe the convicts shipped from Britain and Ireland to Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries. The term was turned on its head, and is used in reference to the fact that the English are still, in the 21st century, stuck in Britain, while the Australians are now free from the British Government, living in independent Australia.
It's pronounced like "pom".
It's pronounced like "pom".
by backpacker_x2 March 22, 2011