urchin — a mischievous child, typically one who is poorly or raggedly dressed
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a mischievous child, typically one who is poorly or raggedly dressed
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/
Example Sentences
- The chef accidentally grabbed a sea urchin instead of a stress ball during his kitchen breakdown.
- That little urchin next door keeps stealing my newspapers to make paper airplanes.
- The street urchins formed their own detective agency to solve neighborhood mysteries.
urchin
NOUN[/ˈɜːrtʃɪn/]
a mischievous child, typically one who is poorly or raggedly dressed

a mischievous child, typically one who is poorly or raggedly dressed

The little urchin keeps searching!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Middle French 'hérisson', meaning hedgehog. The term was semantically extended to refer to sea urchins due to their spiky, small appearance resembling that of hedgehogs, and later broadened to denote small, unimportant-looking children.
Breakdown
hérisson (hedgehog, from Old French 'hérisson') → urchin, with the semantic shift motivated by the spiny appearance shared between hedgehogs and sea creatures.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The chef accidentally grabbed a sea urchin instead of a stress ball during his kitchen breakdown.”
“That little urchin next door keeps stealing my newspapers to make paper airplanes.”
“The street urchins formed their own detective agency to solve neighborhood mysteries.”
“Sea urchins are considered a delicacy in many coastal restaurants.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.