A person who travels from place to place without a permanent home, often working odd jobs or relying on charity.
American slang from the 1890s, possibly from 'ho-boy' (an exclamation) or 'homeboy.' Its true origin is disputed, but it became common during the Great Depression.
Hobos created their own symbol language—chalk marks on buildings meaning 'kind woman here' or 'mean dog'—a secret code system that's now studied by historians.
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