Talk:Tramp
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Um...I think this page has been vandalized...who is Sam Clifford?
If you just define tramp it isn't enough for an encyclopedia. The wikipedia isn't a dictionary.
- Looks like that's been taken care of.Ellsworth
When was the tramp most common? Where? 19th century America? I think tramps would chop wood for people, do chores, but travel mostly by foot, hence the name "tramp", reference to walking. Hobos rode the rails. Mention code of chalk marks "nice house", "big dog", etc. The folk song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" is about tramps. Ortolan88
- Actually it's about hobos. Ellsworth
Tramp is a very common term in the UK, used both as a derogatory term and to describe homeless people. A certain "shabby" look is associated with it. It's also become, for some of the younger generations, a synonym for "slut" or "tart". -- Sam
- The latter is also common in American English. Ellsworth 15:13, 17 Feb 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Bum archaic?
I would argue that 'bum' is not in archaic usage. I hear it somewhat regularly and use it myself.
to tramp was an official term used in britain for people seeking work between jobs. in the 1830s the expression evolved to 'travel' as more people would seek work by the new train. hence 'traveller' this is officially mentioned in books of trades guilds. they were paid a daily rate to tramp from village to village or town seeking work within their guild. workers would seeki work tramping throughout france, germany and other european countries in this way.
