street arab

American  

[street ar-uhb] / ˈstrit ˌær əb /

Or street Arab

noun

Archaic: Often Offensive.

1. a person, especially a child, who lives on the streets; urchin.

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street Arab British  

noun

1. literary a homeless child, esp one who survives by begging and stealing; urchin

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Sensitive Note

See Arab.

Etymology

Origin of street arab

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

I remember the sally of an indignant Parisian street arab, who called after me: "Hey, boy, why so high and mighty?"

From The Bride of Dreams by Auw, Mellie von

He learned his letters with all the sharp precocity which marks the Parisian street arab, and derived great amusement from the woodcuts illustrating the alphabet.

From The Fat and the Thin by Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred

They were popular, with a vengeance—for every little street arab had beef bones for castanets, and every new song was roared out in the streets until it nauseated. 

From Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign by Ashton, John

His figure interested her—the figure of a boy, almost a street arab.

From Women in Love by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)

The first lad was at this moment the victor, and he plunged down the side street with a fleetness known only to the street arab.

From In Wild Rose Time by Douglas, Amanda M.