urchins

Scruffy homeless children

Urchins is the plural of urchin, a word with two main meanings.

A sea urchin is a spiny, globe-shaped marine animal.

An urchin is also a mischievous or ragged child, especially a poor one living on the streets: Dickensian urchins begging for coins.

The child sense carries a note of pity or affection rather than disapproval.

waif

ragamuffin

Shabby, unkempt child

guttersnipeNeglected street youth
gaminHomeless street child
gaminesSpritely, boyish young women

street child · orphan · foundling · stray · waif · scamp · rascal · imp · tyke · nipper

sea

echinoderm

Spiny-skinned marine invertebrate

spinesStiff, pointed projections
tide poolWave-stranded water hollow
reefUnderwater rock or coral formation

kelp forest · invertebrate · test · Aristotle's lantern · grazer · algae eater · uni · roe · sea cucumber · starfish

mischievous

rascal

Lovable troublemaker

scampMischievous young person
impMinor mischief-making devil
pranksterSomeone who plays tricks

troublemaker · rogue · rapscallion · mischief-maker · scallywag · naughty · roguish · impish · playful · devilish

Categories

ocean resourcesfish stocks, seafood, fisheries, shellfish, kelp
Pacific CoastPacific Ocean, beach, Pacific coast, sand, Pacific beaches
tidepoolstidepools, tide pools, tide pool, rockpools, rock pools
troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
Edwardian BritainEdward VII, Queen Victoria, country houses, manor houses, servants
kelp forestkelp, giant kelp, bull kelp, holdfast, holdfasts

Opposites

social class and care status of children

urchinsheirs

Those who inherit

trust fund kids · rich kids · debutantes

Phrases

sea urchinSpiny marine echinoderm
street urchinDestitute child living outdoors
sea urchin stingWound from spiny shellfish

Family

urchin, sea urchin, street urchin

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G