Definition

Noun: * An itinerant Australian laborer who carries his personal belongings in a bundle as he travels around in search of work: A historical term for a transient worker, especially in rural Australia, who traveled on foot from place to place seeking temporary employment, typically carrying his possessions wrapped in a cloth bundle called a "swag."

Examples

• The old swaggie stopped at the farmhouse, hoping to earn a meal by chopping some wood.
• In Australian folklore, the swaggie is a romanticized figure of the outback, representing resilience and independence.
• My grandfather told stories about giving food to swaggies who passed through his property during the Great Depression.

Advanced Usage

• The term evokes a specific period of Australian history, particularly from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, and is associated with the economic hardships of depressions and droughts.
• It carries cultural connotations of the Australian "battler" – a person who endures hardship with stoicism and resourcefulness.

Variants and Related Words

• Swagman (noun): A direct synonym for "swaggie," and the more formal term from which "swaggie" is derived.
• Swag (noun): The roll or bundle containing a traveler's belongings. (e.g., )
• Itinerant worker (noun phrase): The general term for a laborer who moves from place to place for work.
• Drover (noun): A person who moves livestock over long distances, another iconic Australian outback figure who might also carry a swag.

Synonyms

• Itinerant laborer
• Traveling worker
• Hobo (Note: "Hobo" is an American term with a similar meaning but different cultural context.)
• Vagabond (Note: This can have a more romantic or aimless connotation, not specifically tied to seeking work.)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To carry/waltz Matilda: This famous Australian phrase, meaning to travel on foot carrying a swag, is directly associated with the swagman. The song "Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's unofficial national anthem and tells the story of a swagman.
• On the wallaby (track): An Australian expression meaning to be traveling on foot in search of work, often used to describe the life of a swaggie.

Noun

1. an itinerant Australian laborer who carries his personal belongings in a bundle as he travels around in search of work