"a rolling stone gathers no moss" has equivalent phrases in classical Greek and Latin. Similar wording is found in various languages from at least the 15th C. A literal 'rolling-stone' and a figurative usage thereof (a rambler, wanderer; a good-for-nothing) are attested (only later) in 1611 in Cosgrave's "A dictionarie of the French and English tongues".

edit: parenthetical added

Proverb. a rolling stone gathers no moss and variants: a person who does not settle in one place will not accumulate wealth, status, friends, etc., or (alternatively, and now freq.) responsibilities and commitments. Hence, with allusion to the proverb, moss is occasionally used to denote money.

Last edited by tsuwm; 01/03/2006 4:07 PM.