turnpike sailor

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A beggar who pretends to be a sailor.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “turnpike sailor” mean?

A beggar who pretends to be a sailor.

Is “turnpike sailor” formal or informal?

turnpike sailor is generally slang.