Wandering Jew

1. A Jewish shoemaker who, in the Christian tradition, taunted Jesus Christ on the way to his crucifixion and for that was condemned to wander the Earth until the return of Jesus (ie. the second coming).

   1 more example

   The length of the stoppages could not well be reduced; indeed, they are already too short if we are to believe the tale now current of a wandering Jew sort of passenger—a lady of advanced years who can only alight from a train backwards. Every time she begins to get out a porter rushes up crying "Hurry up, ma'am; train's going!"—and pushes her in again!

   1944 May and June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, in Railway Magazine, page 150

plural Wandering Jews

1. Alternative letter-case form of wandering Jew (“plant”).

plural wandering Jews

1. Any plant of three species of spiderworts, Tradescantia pallida, Tradescantia fluminensis, and Tradescantia zebrina.

   GCN needs donations of plants to hang in its windows...Should be plants that like a bright but sunless northern exposure...plants that are happy hanging too; like ivies, wandering jews, spider plants, philodendrons, mother-of-thousands, what have you?? Cuttings O.K., need pots and a sprayer also.

   1974 April 13, “Untitled”, in Gay Community News, page 3

2. The plant Saxifraga stolonifera.