16 definitions by backpacker_x2
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 1, 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
1. Originally used in Spanish to refer very specifically to a person of 50% European and 50% Amerindian descent.
2. Nowadays used to refer to any Hispanic person of mixed Amerindian and European descent, regardless of proportions. Sometimes even used as a general term for any Hispanic person of mixed racial origins.
3. Sometimes used to refer to the Hispanic culture of the Americas (as it is a mix of different indigenous, European and African cultures).
The cognate word in Portuguese is mestiço, while in French it is métis.
2. Nowadays used to refer to any Hispanic person of mixed Amerindian and European descent, regardless of proportions. Sometimes even used as a general term for any Hispanic person of mixed racial origins.
3. Sometimes used to refer to the Hispanic culture of the Americas (as it is a mix of different indigenous, European and African cultures).
The cognate word in Portuguese is mestiço, while in French it is métis.
1. "Mestizo" was just one category in the very complex system of racial categorization used by the Spanish Empire.
2. Most people in Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia and Paraguay are mestizo, while in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay most people are just of European descent, and in Peru and Bolivia most people are Amerindians.
3. "We are one single mestizo race from Mexico to the Magellan Straits." - Ernesto "Che" Guevara
2. Most people in Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia and Paraguay are mestizo, while in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay most people are just of European descent, and in Peru and Bolivia most people are Amerindians.
3. "We are one single mestizo race from Mexico to the Magellan Straits." - Ernesto "Che" Guevara
by backpacker_x2 February 1, 2011
1. The Italian name for Rome, the capital city of Italy.
2. A traditionally nomadic people, also known as Romani, who left the Indian Subcontinent in around the 11th century and migrated to Europe. Nowadays they are found throughout Europe, with especially large populations in Andalusia, the Balkans and Central Europe. They have experienced much discrimination (known as antiziganism) throughout history, and were systematically murdered in the Holocaust alongside Jews. The Roma have their own language, which is more closely related to Hindi and Gujarati than to any European language. The similarity between the names of the Roma and the Romanians is purely coincidental, although there is a large Roma population in Romania. The Roma are sometimes known in English as gypsies, due to a historic belief that the Roma originated in Egypt.
2. A traditionally nomadic people, also known as Romani, who left the Indian Subcontinent in around the 11th century and migrated to Europe. Nowadays they are found throughout Europe, with especially large populations in Andalusia, the Balkans and Central Europe. They have experienced much discrimination (known as antiziganism) throughout history, and were systematically murdered in the Holocaust alongside Jews. The Roma have their own language, which is more closely related to Hindi and Gujarati than to any European language. The similarity between the names of the Roma and the Romanians is purely coincidental, although there is a large Roma population in Romania. The Roma are sometimes known in English as gypsies, due to a historic belief that the Roma originated in Egypt.
1. "Roma" is the Italian name for Rome.
2. There are around 650,000 Roma in Spain, 540,000 in Romania, 500,000 in France, 370,000 in Bulgaria and 210,000 in Hungary.
2. There are around 650,000 Roma in Spain, 540,000 in Romania, 500,000 in France, 370,000 in Bulgaria and 210,000 in Hungary.
by backpacker_x2 January 28, 2011
1. A person who travels independently, typically on a low budget, usually staying in hostels or with locals rather than in hotels. Usually aged between 18 and 30 but can be older. Backpackers often travel for several months at a time, and do not consider their trip to be a "holiday". Due to the fact that backpacking was popularized by the hippie movement in the 1960s, there is some association of backpackers with aspects of counterculture.
2. A fan of certain types of "alternative" hip-hop. When used as a derogatory term, it can imply that the individual is suburban/middle class and listens to "nerd rap" rather than "real rap". When used as a neutral term of description, it can imply that the individual listens to thought-provoking, original, intellectual hip-hop. The term is especially associated with fans of the record label Definitive Jux.
2. A fan of certain types of "alternative" hip-hop. When used as a derogatory term, it can imply that the individual is suburban/middle class and listens to "nerd rap" rather than "real rap". When used as a neutral term of description, it can imply that the individual listens to thought-provoking, original, intellectual hip-hop. The term is especially associated with fans of the record label Definitive Jux.
1. "Last night I went out for a spliff with a bunch of Australian backpackers I met in a club, they were pretty cool guys."
2. "Oh I'm not really into that whole artsy backpacker scene, I prefer straight-up rap music, stuff like 2Pac and N.W.A."
2. "Oh I'm not really into that whole artsy backpacker scene, I prefer straight-up rap music, stuff like 2Pac and N.W.A."
by backpacker_x2 January 27, 2011