vagabond
UK: ˈvæɡəbɒnd | US: ˈvæɡəbɑːnd
n. a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job
adj. wandering or unsettled in habit or lifestyle
vagabond = vag<wander> + a<connecting vowel> + bond<bound>
- vag (from Latin vagus, meaning "wandering")
- a (a connecting vowel with no standalone meaning)
- bond (from Old French bondir, meaning "to leap" or "bound," implying movement)
Etymology Origin:
The word "vagabond" traces back to Latin vagabundus, combining vagus (wandering) and -bundus (a suffix suggesting tendency). It entered Middle English via Old French, originally describing someone who roams without purpose. The morpheme "bond" reflects the idea of being "bound" to a nomadic life, though its modern association with aimlessness emerged later.
The old vagabond traveled from town to town, telling stories for food.
She adopted a vagabond lifestyle after quitting her corporate job.
Medieval laws often punished vagabonds for being idle.
His vagabond shoes were worn thin from years of walking.
The novel’s hero is a charming vagabond who thrives on adventure.