What is the meaning of the word Bohemian?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian

Answer 2

Meaning Of The Word Bohemian

Answer 3

Bohemians are inhabitants of Bohemia, Czech Republic. The term used to designate inhabitants of the former kingdom of Bohemia, located in the west of the modern day Czech Republic. The name derived from the Latin term for the Celtic tribe (Boii) inhabiting that area (Tacitus: Boiohaemum). The word "Bohemians" was never used by the local Czech population. In Czech, the region was since early Middle Ages called only "Čechy" - Bohemia or "Království české" - Kingdom of Bohemia, and its mainly Czech-speaking inhabitants "Češi".

In other European vernaculars and in Latin (Bohemi) the word "Bohemian" or its derivates was used to designate all inhabitants of Bohemia. If the Czech ethnic origin was to be stressed, combinations like "Bohemian of Bohemian language", "a real Bohemian" etc. were used.

It was not until the 19th century when other European languages started to use the word "Czechs" (in English), "Tschechen" (in German) or tchèques (in French) in a deliberate (and successful) attempt to distinguish between ethnic Czechs and other inhabitants of Bohemia. Nowadays "Bohemians" is still used when there is need to distinguish between inhabitants of the western part of the Czech Republic (Bohemia) and the eastern part (Moravia).

It is not clear how the word acquired its secondary meaning (see Bohemianism or Bohemian (disambiguation)), but it is believed that it comes from the French idea that Gypsies originated from Bohemia (while they were travelling from there).

In modern usage, a bohemian can describe any person who lives an unconventional artistic life, where self-expression is the highest value — that art (acting, poetry, writing, singing, dancing, painting etc) is a serious and main focus of their life. The term was applied particularly to the Bloomsbury Group in the first half of the 20th century, and, early in the 21st century, to a style of female fashion ("boho-chic").

Answer 4

Like "beatniks".
Though a Bohemian is a native of the Czech province of Bohemia, a secondary meaning for bohemian emerged in nineteenth century France. The term was used to describe artists, writers, and disenchanted people of all sorts who wished to live non-traditional lifestyles.

Answer 5

Bohemian normally means someone or something artsy... kind of estranged from common place things. One thinks of gypsys and Greenwhich Village NYC when you think Bohemian... you imagine heads dawned in scarfs with unique and self made clothes on... a way of seperating self from conservative society and claiming unique difference.

Answer 6

It can mean both a Czech or a person who is often an artist, writer,sometimes a rebel, always wonders around, drinks coffee, stands for his believes..etc.

Answer 7

Something from Bohemia

Answer 8

technically, it's anyone from bohemia in the czech republic.

it's come to mean anyone who lives an arty and/or nonconventional life.

Answer 9

Unconventional or not following the rules. Or, I could simply say, my life.

Answer 10

bohemian:

Noun
A person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior.