homeward-bound, a.
[See bound ppl. a.1]
Bound homeward; preparing to go home; directing one's course homeward. Said esp. of a ship returning home from a foreign port.
| 1602 Carew Cornwall (1811) 9 When either outward or homeward bound they are checked by an east..wind. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3826/3 With 6 homeward-bound Merchant Ships. 1832 Marryat N. Forster xxiii, The crew..were picked up by a homeward-bound vessel. |
| absol. 1887 Pall Mall G. 6 July 5/1 There is no precaution taken against outward-bounds meeting homeward-bounds? |
Hence
ˈhomeward-ˈbounder colloq., a homeward-bound vessel.
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Homeward-Bounder, a ship on her course home. 1897 Daily News 2 June 8/6 What time the homeward bounders were heading..for the white cliffs of opposite Albion. |