home sick

[Vik-Nik-Sor]

My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher I was playing hooky when I was home sick.
(American Idioms)

hospital ship
■ noun a ship which functions as a hospital, especially to receive or take home sick or wounded military personnel.
OED

Dictionaries say that homesick/home-sick is "experiencing a longing for one's home during a period of absence from it".
But the "home sick" in the quotes has a different meaning, right?
Thanks.

 

[Barb_D]

Completely different.
I was at home in a state of being unwell. I was home sick.
The ships returns wounded or ill service members to their homes. It takes home those who are sick or inured. It takes home sick service members.

 

[SoothingDave]

This is why we should be careful about compound words. "I am home sick" and "I am homesick" mean two different things.