Weary Willie

noun

: one who avoids or dislikes work

a general truancy by the Weary Willies, leaving the work-gluttons to do their share and do it better

—Manchester Guardian Weekly

specifically : tramp

the railroad had helped to create the Weary Willie

—S. H. Holbrook

Word History

Etymology

weary entry 1 + Willie, nickname for William

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!