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• street arab
  street arab

  noun

  a person, especially a child, who lives on the streets; urchin.
• street Arab
  street Arab

  noun

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

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

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.

The beggar reciting the Bible to fill his pocket is very well; but he does not come up to the preaching street arab.

From Friend Mac Donald by O'Rell, Max

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

Commonly, he would have been through with all his tasks for the day, and he looked with something like disgust at this dirty street arab who was thus turning the household “all tipsy-topsy.”

From Divided Skates by Raymond, Evelyn

And the shrewd young street arab arose to his feet, touched his cap with his forefinger, and said: "H'all right, sir; I 'opes I'll suit."

From The Shagganappi by Johnson, E. Pauline