Hypertext Webster Gateway: "urchin"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Urchin \Ur"chin\, n. [OE. urchon, irchon, a hedgehog, OF.
ire[,c]on, eri[,c]on, heri?on, herichon, F. h['e]risson, a
derivative fr. L. ericius, from er a hedgehog, for her; akin
to Gr. ?. Cf. {Herisson}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A hedgehog.

2. (Zo["o]l.) A sea urchin. See {Sea urchin}.

3. A mischievous elf supposed sometimes to take the form a
hedgehog. ``We 'll dress [them] like urchins, ouphes, and
fairies.'' --Shak.

4. A pert or roguish child; -- now commonly used only of a
boy.

And the urchins that stand with their thievish eyes
Forever on watch ran off each with a prize. --W.
Howitt.

You did indeed dissemble, you urchin you; but
where's the girl that won't dissemble for an
husband? --Goldsmith.

5. One of a pair in a series of small card cylinders,
arranged around a carding drum; -- so called from its
fancied resemblance to the hedgehog. --Knight.

{Urchin fish} (Zo["o]l.), a diodon.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Urchin \Ur"chin\, a.
Rough; pricking; piercing. [R.] ``Helping all urchin
blasts.'' --Milton.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

urchin
n : poor and often mischievous city child


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