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
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. 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. British term used to refer collectively to two separate traditionally-nomadic groups found in the UK: Irish Travellers (also known as Pavee, tinkers and pikeys) and Romani (also known as Roma, Romany, Romanichals, Romnichals and Kale). The term is used to replace the traditional term "gypsy", which is now considered offensive by some. The term refers to members of these two groups regardless of whether they actually live a nomadic or sedentary lifestyle.
2. A term used by people who are travelling away from home, but have distaste for the terms "tourist" and "holidaymaker". Travellers are often said to be distinct from tourists/holidaymakers due to the fact that they travel for longer periods of time, seeing a variety of places in one trip, and make an effort to experience the real spirit of the places they visit, rather than just tourist resorts. Those who self-describe as travellers are also often travelling on a tighter budget than traditional tourists, staying in hostels rather than hotels. A roughly synonymous term is "backpacker".
2. A term used by people who are travelling away from home, but have distaste for the terms "tourist" and "holidaymaker". Travellers are often said to be distinct from tourists/holidaymakers due to the fact that they travel for longer periods of time, seeing a variety of places in one trip, and make an effort to experience the real spirit of the places they visit, rather than just tourist resorts. Those who self-describe as travellers are also often travelling on a tighter budget than traditional tourists, staying in hostels rather than hotels. A roughly synonymous term is "backpacker".
1. Although the Romani and the Irish Travellers have very different histories and cultures, the majority of the British population are unaware of existence of two distinct groups, and consider both to be "gypsies" or "travellers".
2. The great thing about staying in hostels is the opportunity to meet and hang out with other travellers, from all over the world.
2. The great thing about staying in hostels is the opportunity to meet and hang out with other travellers, from all over the world.
by backpacker_x2 January 28, 2011