noun,plural ho·bos, ho·boes. a tramp or vagrant. a migratory worker.
People Also Ask
Be careful when you call a vagrant or homeless person a hobo — although this is exactly what the word means, it is a somewhat offensive term. The end of the nineteenth century brought the start of the word hobo in the Western United States.
Female hobos, also known as “hobo women,” were a common sight during the Great Depression in the United States. Many female hobos were single mothers who had lost their homes and means of support. Female hobos often traveled with their children and were known for their resourcefulness and resilience.
After the Civil War, many headed west in search of work, carrying a hoe with them. “Hoe boys” became “hobos.” Hobos were not bums or tramps; they were men seeking work wherever they could find it. They lived out of doors in camps known as jungles. The dangers of travel by hopping trains crippled many.