# urchin

/ˈɝtʃən/ (US) · /ˈɜːtʃɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/urchin
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. sea creature

noun · CEFR B2

a small sea animal with a round shell covered in sharp spikes.

For teachers: a small, spiny marine echinoderm of the class Echinoidea, typically possessing a globular body protected by a calcareous test.

- We had to be careful not to step on a sharp urchin while swimming near the rocks.
- The diver carefully avoided the purple spines of the urchin, which was wedged firmly into a crevice in the coral reef.

### 2. a poor child

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a poor child who is often dirty and spends most of their time on the street.

For teachers: a mischievous or impoverished child who lives or spends significant time on the streets; often carries a Dickensian or historical connotation.

- The old novel describes a young urchin begging for coins in the market.
- Victorian literature frequently features the street urchin as a symbol of urban poverty and neglected childhood.

### 3. hedgehog

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word for a hedgehog.

For teachers: the original English term for a hedgehog, now largely replaced by the modern name.

- In the ancient poem, the poet describes an urchin hiding in the bushes.
- The term survives in modern English primarily through the name of the 'sea urchin', which was named for its resemblance to the land-dwelling urchin.

## Examples

- The story is about a street urchin who finds a gold coin.
- In many classic novels, the protagonist is a poor urchin who eventually finds a better life through hard work.
- The author paints a vivid portrait of a Victorian urchin, highlighting the stark contrast between the child's sharp wit and the grimy, dangerous environment of the city's underbelly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.