URCHIN


Meaning of URCHIN in English

/ ˈɜːtʃɪn; NAmE ˈɜːrtʃɪn/ noun

1.

( old-fashioned ) a young child who is poor and dirty, often one who has no home :

a dirty little street urchin

2.

= sea urchin

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WORD ORIGIN

Middle English hirchon , urchon hedgehog , from Old Northern French herichon , based on Latin hericius hedgehog.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.