street urchin

English

Etymology

First use appears c. 1827 in a publication by Thomas Carlyle. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. Needs explanation

Noun

street urchin (plural street urchins)

  1. (British, dated) A child who lives, or spends most of their time, in the streets; sometimes a petty thief or pickpocket.
    Synonyms: gamin, guttersnipe, street child, street kid
    • 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 84:
      She ran to the door and there beheld the ragged street urchin calmly playing his organ.
    • 2020, Raju Kasambe, Indian Grey Hornbill: Unravelling the Secrets, page 94:
      On many occasions, groups of street urchins were seen climbing up large trees for squabs of Rose-ringed Parakeets[.]

Translations

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