Bindle stiff is a term that has been used to refer to a wandering laborer who carried their possessions in a bundle or bindle, held on the end of a stick. This term originated in the American West during the late 1800s and early 1900s and has many synonyms that describe the same type of person. Some of the most common synonyms include "hobo," "tramp," "drifter," "vagabond," and "migrant worker." These words all have slightly different connotations, but they all refer to people who travel from place to place in search of work or adventure, often carrying their few belongings with them. Despite the negative associations sometimes attached to these terms, many bindle stiffs were hardworking individuals who simply had few options for survival in a challenging economic and social landscape.