# What do you call that stick with a bag hanging off it that the iconic hobo has? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278 "2006-02-06T19:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/1 "2006-02-06T19:19:33Z")
Millions, Maybe that was a bad explanation in the title. But think of the generic, symbolic homeless guy. He has that long stick (maybe broom-handle sized) with a polka dot sack hanging off the end. You know. He slings it over his shoulder. I recall some cartoon bird may have had one of these too. Anyway, if I’m making sense (which is questionable), what the hell do you call that thing? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/2 "2006-02-06T19:20:55Z")
I think I’ve seen or heard it as a “bindle.” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/3 "2006-02-06T19:25:20Z")
**Zeldar** ’s got it. And the walking stick that supports the bindle is, logically enough, a “bindle stick”. [All the hobo slang you’ll ever need](http://www.angelfire.com/folk/famoustramp/terminology.html). ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/4 "2006-02-06T19:29:47Z")
YES! Zeldar is my personal Cecil today. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/5 "2006-02-06T19:30:29Z")
And just because the **Straight Dope** is that kind of place, hobo chalk symbols: [http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm](http://www.slackaction.com/signroll.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/6 "2006-02-06T19:35:54Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > YES! Zeldar is my personal Cecil today. You’re just really lucky to name two things I happen to know without Google’s help. Got any questions about haiku or macrame’? I also have a few opinions to spare if they’re in need. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/7 "2006-02-06T19:44:04Z")
You could always write me a haiku _about_ macrame. Then our bases would be throughly covered. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/8 "2006-02-06T19:47:43Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > You could always write me a haiku _about_ macrame. Then our bases would be throughly covered. Vines on the cottage Candlelight through the window Dusty macrame’ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/9 "2006-02-06T19:54:07Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > **Zeldar** ’s got it. And the walking stick that supports the bindle is, logically enough, a “bindle stick”. And the hobo carrying a bindle stick is a bindlestiff. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-that-stick-with-a-bag-hanging-off-it-that-the-iconic-hobo-has/343278/10 "2006-02-06T20:01:25Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Vines on the cottage > Candlelight through the window > Dusty macrame’ Basho surrenders.