World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesRopavejero
Pronunciation / Transliteration: /ro.pa.βeˈxe.ɾo/
"El ropavejero compraba ropa vieja y trastos por el vecindario."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A person who travels through neighborhoods collecting discarded household items, such as rags, old clothes, and bones, to sell them for recycling or reuse.
"In Victorian London, the rag-and-bone man was a familiar figure pushing a handcart down cobbled streets." - 2
A historical colloquial title for an itinerant scrap dealer or junk collector.
"My grandfather used to tell stories of trading old metal and bottles to the local rag-and-bone man."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term dates back to the early 19th century in Britain during the Industrial Revolution, combining 'rag' (discarded cloth), 'bone' (animal bones used for glue and fertilizer), and 'man'. These itinerant collectors walked the streets calling out to purchase or salvage unwanted household waste, playing a crucial early role in urban recycling before municipal waste management systems were established.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Rag-and-bone man"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Rag-and-bone man" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
Chiffonnier
Transliteration: /ʃi.fɔ.nje/
"Autrefois, le chiffonnier parcourait les rues pour ramasser les vieux tissus."
Lumpensammler
Transliteration: /ˈlʊmpn̩ˌzamlɐ/
"Der Lumpensammler zog früher mit seinem Karren durch das Dorf."
Straccivendolo
Transliteration: /strat.t͡ʃiˈvɛn.do.lo/
"Lo straccivendolo raccoglieva vecchi stracci e oggetti di metallo."
Ropavejero
Transliteration: /ro.pa.βeˈxe.ɾo/
"El ropavejero compraba ropa vieja y trastos por el vecindario."
Sucateiro
Transliteration: /su.kaˈtej.ɾu/
"Antigamente, o sucateiro passava pelas ruas a apanhar ferro velho."
कबाड़ी वाला
Transliteration: Kabari wala
"पुराने सामान और कागज़ बेचने के लिए कबाड़ी वाला आया है।"
收破烂的人
Transliteration: shōu pò làn de rén
"以前街上有专门收破烂的人收集废旧物品。"
고물상
Transliteration: Gomulsang
"동네를 돌며 헌옷과 고물을 수집하는 고물상이 있었다."
襤褸買い
Transliteration: Borogai
"昔はボロ買いが町を巡って不要な布を集めていた。"
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