Main Entry:

ur·chin

Pronunciation:

\ˈər-chən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English yrchoun, urchoun, from Anglo-French heriçun, hirechoun, from Old French *eriz, from Latin ericius, from eris; akin to Greek chēr hedgehog

Date:

14th century

1archaic : hedgehog 1a2: a mischievous and often poor and raggedly clothed youngster <street urchins>3: sea urchin