Vagrancy (people) - Definition and Etymology

Definition and Etymology

A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.

Both 'vagrant' and 'vagabond' ultimately derive from Latin word vagari 'wander.' The term vagabond is derived from Latin vagabundus. In Middle English, 'vagabond' originally denoted a criminal.

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