Definition

Noun: A hobo camp is a temporary, often makeshift settlement where homeless individuals, particularly migratory workers (hoboes), gather to sleep, cook, and find temporary shelter. These camps are typically located in secluded areas like woods, under bridges, or near railroad lines.

Usage

The term "hobo camp" specifically describes the physical location or encampment itself. It is a compound noun.

Examples: * The old railroad junction was known for its hobo camp. * During the Great Depression, many men lived in a hobo camp near the river. * The city cleared out the hobo camp that had formed in the vacant lot.

Advanced Usage

• The concept is often associated with historical periods of economic hardship and the culture of itinerant workers in the United States.
• In modern contexts, the term might be used descriptively or historically, while terms like "homeless encampment" or "tent city" are more common for contemporary situations.

Variants and Related Words

• Jungle (noun): A historical synonym for a hobo camp, often implying a more established communal camp with shared cooking facilities.
• Encampment (noun): A more general term for a group of tents or temporary shelters.
• Shantytown (noun): A settlement of improvised shacks, often larger and more permanent than a typical hobo camp.

Synonyms

• Homeless encampment
• Tramp camp (dated/less common)
• Bivouac (though this more often refers to a temporary camp for soldiers or mountaineers)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Riding the rails: The practice of illegally hopping freight trains, closely associated with the hobo lifestyle and the locations of hobo camps.
• To be on the bum: An old slang phrase meaning to be living as a hobo or tramp.

Noun

1. a place where hoboes camp