What does yeggman mean?
Yeggman is an informal, chiefly Australasian word for an itinerant man. In Australian English it is associated with a swagman—a travelling worker who carries his possessions, often from farm to farm—and can also convey the older, disparaging sense of a tramp or vagrant. In New Zealand usage, the word has been applied to a travelling salesman or pedlar. The term is now uncommon and often appears in historical writing, popular culture, or descriptions of outback and rural life. Although its meanings overlap with swagman, pedlar and salesman, yeggman has a more particular, old-fashioned flavour. It commonly evokes solitary travel, temporary employment and life on the road rather than the activities of a modern retail business.
nounAn itinerant man, especially a swagman or tramp in Australian usage; in New Zealand usage, a travelling salesman or pedlar.
- Chiefly Australian: a swagman or tramp, especially an itinerant worker who carries his possessions with him.
- New Zealand: a travelling salesman or pedlar.
"The old novel tells of a yeggman moving from farm to farm in search of work."
"He remembered the days when he had walked the outback as a yeggman."
"The yeggman arrived before the rain, carrying samples in a battered suitcase."
The plural uses -men, with the final syllable pronounced as a separate unstressed syllable.
"The novel portrays two yeggmen crossing the dry country together."
A yeggman carried his worldly goods on his back—and called it a swag.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yeggman
Yeggman is an English compound formed from yegg and man. The word has circulated in Australian and New Zealand English, where it has denoted both a swagman and a travelling salesman. The ultimate origin of yegg is uncertain, so no more distant cognate can be stated confidently.
How yeggman is actually used
Informal, old-fashioned and chiefly Australasian. Its use for a swagman or tramp may sound derogatory, while its use for a travelling salesman can be neutral or nostalgic.