remittance-man

A remittance-man receives his monthly allowance from abroad.

Definition

Noun: - A person living abroad on money sent from home: "remittance-man" refers to an individual, typically a man, who resides in a foreign country and is financially supported by remittances (money sent) from relatives or an allowance from his home country. This term often carries a historical or slightly derogatory connotation, implying that the person is exiled or sent away due to family embarrassment or inability to succeed at home.

Usage Examples

• (A man supported by money sent from his home country while living abroad.)
• (Individuals receiving financial support from abroad, often seen as idle.)

Advanced Usage

• Historical context: The term was commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially within the British Empire, to describe younger sons of aristocratic families who were sent to colonies (e.g., Canada, Australia) to avoid scandal or failure at home. They lived on a regular allowance sent from the family estate.
  • Many remittance-men in Canada were the black sheep of their families, sent overseas to live modestly on a fixed income. (Historical example of such individuals in a colonial setting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Remittance (n): a sum of money sent, especially as payment or as a gift to someone in another place.
  • He received a monthly remittance from his parents. (Money sent regularly from abroad.)
• Remittance-woman (n, less common): a female version of a remittance-man.
  • She was a remittance-woman, living in Italy on funds from her English aunt. (A woman supported by money sent from home.)

Synonyms

• Expatriate: a person who lives outside their native country (often neutral, without the financial implication).
• Dependent: a person who relies on another for financial support (broader term).

Related Idioms

• To live on a remittance: to survive financially through money sent from elsewhere.
  • He lived on a remittance from his father, never needing to find work. (To rely on sent funds for living expenses.)

Notes

• The term is rarely used in modern contexts and can be considered dated or pejorative, implying lack of ambition or social exile. It is most commonly encountered in historical literature or discussions of colonial society.