wanderjahr

plural wanderjahrs · plural wanderjahre · alternative Wanderjahr

1. A year-long period of travel, especially following one’s education and prior to seeking employment.

   And these Wanderjahre, and combats with the Beast, are the story-teller's version of the incest taboo; whereby a man must first prove ‘fitness’ and then much ‘marry far’.

   1987, Bruce Chatwin, The Songlines, Vintage, published 1998, page 216

   2 more examples

   Once he has assembled his characters in the lively youth resort of Torremolinos, Michener packs them into a Volkswagen bus and sends them on their Wanderjahr through some pretty interesting places.

   1971 June 27, Peter Sourian, “The Drifters”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   When she initially conceived of the “52 Places” job and worked with video, interactives, and masthead editors to develop its duties, Ms. Drake thought of it as a sort of “grown-up gap year,” a reflection of the growing popularity, over the last few decades, of Wanderjahr-like jaunts.

   2017 October 30, Raillan Brooks, “Why Send a Journalist on a 52-Week Trot Around the Globe?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: gap year, wanderyear

2. historicalA year spent by an apprentice travelling and honing skills prior to the professional practice of a trade.

plural Wanderjahrs · plural Wanderjahre

1. Alternative letter-case form of wanderjahr.