homeward-bounder

Noun

homeward bounder (plural homeward bounders)

1. A vessel making a return trip to its home port or home country.
   • Here are outward bounders, and homeward bounders, apparently just about to run over each other in every direction[.]1850 December 12, The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW, page 2, column 1
2. A person making a return trip to their home country.
   • [advert] WANTED, to Sell to Homeward-bounders, a splendid King PARROT and Cedar CAGE, £2 10s.1862 October 30, The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW, page 4, column 3
3. A roughly executed stitch used when repairing articles of clothing on a vessel nearing the end of a long voyage.
   • [D]o you for one moment believe that the ‘homeward bounders’ in Mrs. Faul's needlework was the head and front of Mr. Flannery's offending?1879 August 30, The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser, NSW, page 4, column 1
4. (Australia, obsolete) A goldmine which is highly productive, making the owners rich enough to abandon mining and return to their home country.
   • A rich hole is now known as a "homeward bounder," — a name expressive of pleasure to the winner of the prize, but of sinister significance to those who remain behind.1859 April 29, The Geelong Advertiser, Victoria, page 2, column 2