bindle stiff

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 25, 2008 is: bindle stiff • \BIN-dul-stiff\  • noun : hobo; especially : one who carries his clothes or bedding in a bundle Examples: Jack London's experiences as a bindle stiff in the early 1890s later provided material for his writing. Did you know? In the argot of tramps and hoboes, a roll of clothes and bedding was called a "bindle," a word that probably originated as an alteration of the more familiar "bundle." "Stiff" itself can mean "hobo" or "migrant worker," meanings it took on in the late 19th century. About the same time, any tramp or hobo who habitually carried such a pack was known as a "bindle stiff." In Australia, a pack-carrying hobo might be called a "swagman." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.