homeward bounder

noun4

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
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
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
4. •
   (Australia, no longer used) 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