a homeless child, esp one who survives by begging and stealing; urchin
street Arab in American English
a homeless or neglected child left to roam the streets; gamin
: also street urchin
street arab in American English
noun
sometimes offensive
a homeless person, esp. a child, who survives by begging and stealing; urchin
Also: street Arab
Word origin
[1860–65]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: blind spot, jumping jack, metric system, monism, raider