Homie
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Homie (less frequently, homey), comes from the word "Homes" that early Mexica-American in the southwest US would use to call people from their "Barrio" or neighborhood, Older guys from the neighborhood usally call "Older Head's", would refer to the Youth or "Young Head's" from the neighborhood would be call homie's as in For "little Homes". In modern usage, it is also a contraction for the word "homeboy" which is prevalent in the Black English dialect and in hip-hop and rap music. In the U.S., the slang term "homie" generally refers to a close friend, especially one who exhibits strong loyalty.
[edit] Derogatory usage
In Australia the term homie or homies may also be used as a derogatory term for groups of teenagers/young-adults often skipping school or unemployed, who often congregate around shopping centres, fast food outlets and major public transport hubs (i.e. bus-stops). Similar to the English term Chav, and sharing characteristics with the Australian term bogan.
The major difference between homies and bogans is music taste and dress. Where bogans tend to favor rock, and dark clothing such as tight black jeans and a black metal t-shirt, homies are more likely to listen to rap or hip hop and be wearing clothes such as tracksuits, baggy jeans, conspicuous belts, shirts bearing brand names or sleeveless shirts. This aside the other anti-social aspects of the stereotype are similar.
In many places the generation X bogans have been replaced/displaced by the generation Y homies. If a fight breaks out, the stereotypical bogan is more likely to fight barefist, whereas the homie may choose to fight with knives and/or other weapons. Homies may also be referred to as "wannabe gangstas" or "Snobs".
It should also be noted that the term is not exclusively derogatory in Australia, and it depends on whom is being referred to. The usage described above, as a term for a friend, is also used. However, people who use the term homie as a term for their friend, are those most likely to be referred to as homies in the derogatory sense, by those outside their circle or age group.
The term is sometimes incorrectly used in the UK to refer to someone who is homosexual, on the premise that it is an informal abbreviation of the term; if it is used in this context it would usually be in a derogatory manner. The word is also associated, in the UK, with the chav subculture, Rastafarianism and Afro-Caribbeans.
[edit] References
1976 R. E. CHINN Dig Nigger Up 60 Now and then I would see and talk to a homie. 1945 L. SHELLY Hepcats Jive Talk Dict. I. 12/2 Homey, someone from your home town. 1944 D. BURLEY Orig. Handbk. Harlem Jive 140/1 Homey,..one newly arrived from the South, a person from one's home-town, one who isn't fully aware of what is going on.
