A vagrant or homeless person; alternatively, a person's buttocks (informal).
From German 'bummler' meaning 'loafer' or 'vagrant,' borrowed into English in the 1800s. The word took on different meanings in different English-speaking regions.
The word 'bum' has wildly different meanings depending on where you are—British kids use it for bottom, Americans use 'bum' for a vagrant, and Australians use it too but with their own twist. This is a perfect example of how English fractured into regional dialects with different slang.
In British English, 'bum' is gender-neutral (buttocks/vagrant). In American English, carries gendered baggage from dismissive language toward marginalized people, particularly women and homeless individuals, with dehumanizing connotations.
Prefer 'person experiencing homelessness' or anatomical precision ('buttocks'). Context determines whether the neutral reference or inclusive alternative applies.
["person experiencing homelessness","unhoused person","buttocks","destitute person"]
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