1. a mischievous or raggedly dressed child, especially one who is poor or homeless
Usage: often implies endearment despite describing poverty
2. a sea urchin; a small marine animal with a round spiny shell
Usage: marine biology

Examples

• The little urchin ran barefoot through the streets.
• Street urchins gathered around the bakery hoping for scraps.
• Oliver Twist was portrayed as a lovable urchin in Dickens’ novel.
• The tide pool contained several purple sea urchins.
• Be careful not to step on an urchin while walking on the rocks.
• The urchin’s spines can cause painful wounds if touched.
• Local urchins knew all the best hiding spots in the neighborhood.