Jump to content
 Share

5 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • Site Moderator
  • Popular Comment
drpaladin

drpaladin 86,958

Posted

  • Site Moderator
  • Popular Comment
Quote

Sheepherders are nomadic, following their herds

Exactly. Nomad is from the Greek word for shepard.

  • Like 7
  • Popular Comment
Paladin

Paladin 12,704

Posted (edited)

  • Popular Comment

In Australia we have the term "grey nomads". It refers to retirees who either hitch up a caravan or drive a motorhome so they can be nomadic and set out to tour Australia. Often their intention is to drive all the way around Australia. I'd be interested to know if this term is current in other countries.

Edited by Paladin
  • Like 6
  • Popular Comment
Bill W

Bill W 54,144

Posted

  • Popular Comment

The core concept of "nomad" and "nomadic" stems from the Ancient Greek word "nomás," which described people who roamed around, often in search of grazing land for their herds.  The word "nomad" was adopted into Latin as "Nomades," which further influenced the development of French and English. 

The English word "nomadic" was created by adding the adjective-forming suffix "-ic" to the noun "nomad". This suffix, borrowed from French and Latin, indicates a connection to or relationship with the word it modifies.  
 
The earliest confirmed use of the adjective "nomadic" in English is from 1807, found in the writings of ancient historian John Gillies. 
 
Examples of nomadic used in a sentence: 
"They were the property of a nomadic tribe in the first century AD."  
"Half a century ago, most Arabs lived in rural areas or as nomadic tribes." 
"The modern era was about to arrive with its cars, oil and revolutions, the end of the nomadic way of life." 
"I had a nomadic childhood because my dad was in the military and we moved from assignment to assignment.   
 
  • Like 6
ReaderPaul

ReaderPaul 17,246

Posted (edited)

On 4/19/2025 at 4:42 AM, Paladin said:

In Australia we have the term "grey nomads". It refers to retirees who either hitch up a caravan or drive a motorhome so they can be nomadic and set out to tour Australia. Often their intention is to drive all the way around Australia. I'd be interested to know if this term is current in other countries.

@Paladin -- I have heard the term "grey nomads" or "gray nomads" -- applied to persons who live full time in a motorhome or an RV (Recreational Vehicle) or Fifth Wheel (a large camper with many or all features of a motorhome or RV, but pulled (usually) by a high-capability pickup and/or truck.  More commonly here in the US Midwest we call them RVers.  Some other RVers are not full-time, but have a home they use part of the time.  A few years ago, a couple moved next door to me who had been full-time RVers but got tired of the road all the time.  They told me they had maintained a Post Office box in the state of South Dakota for stuff which required a legal post office address.

Most full-time RVers I have met tend to be be very nice folks, retired from jobs, somewhat more relaxed than average, and resourceful -- and have more than average income.

Edited by ReaderPaul
  • Like 1
  • Love 4

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...