swaggie
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A swaggie walks along a dusty outback track with his bundle over his shoulder.
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.
A swaggie walks along a dusty outback track with his bundle over his shoulder.
Noun
- an itinerant Australian laborer who carries his personal belongings in a bundle as he travels around in search of work