Australian slang for a homeless person, vagrant, or someone living in poor conditions; sometimes considered offensive.
Australian English origin, likely derived from 'derelict' shortened and colloquialized. It became common slang in Australian urban areas during the 20th century to refer to socially marginalized individuals.
Australian slang has a reputation for shortening and colloquializing everything, and 'dero' is a perfect example—it took the formal word 'derelict' and made it casual and blunt. The word's etymology reveals how language can simultaneously create intimacy and distance, depending on who's speaking.
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