noun
urchin
URT-shihn
noun
1
A young child, especially a poor or mischievous one often seen roaming the streets.
"A gang of street urchins darted through the market stalls."
2
A spiny, round sea creature that lives on the ocean floor.
"She stepped on a sea urchin while wading near the rocks."
How to Use Urchin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a raggedy, mischievous child or a spiky sea animal, depending on context.
Common pairings
street urchin
sea urchin
Word Forms
urchins plural
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A gang of street _____ darted through the market stalls.
Etymology
From Middle English yrchoun, "hedgehog," ultimately from Latin ēricius — the sea creature and the scruffy child were both named for their resemblance to a hedgehog's spines.