Ur"chin (û"ch&ibreve;n), n. [OE. urchon, irchon, a hedgehog, OF. ireçon, eriçon, heriçon, herichon, F. hérisson, a derivative fr. L. ericius, from er a hedgehog, for her; akin to Gr. chh`r. Cf. Herisson.]

1. (Zoöl.) A hedgehog.

2. (Zoöl.) A sea urchin. See Sea urchin.

3. A mischievous elf supposed sometimes to take the form a hedgehog. "We 'll dress [them] like urchins, ouphes, and fairies." Shak.

4. A pert or roguish child; -- now commonly used only of a boy.

And the urchins that stand with their thievish eyes
Forever on watch ran off each with a prize.

You did indeed dissemble, you urchin you; but where's the girl that won't dissemble for an husband?

5. One of a pair in a series of small card cylinders, arranged around a carding drum; -- so called from its fancied resemblance to the hedgehog. Knight.

Ur"chin, a. Rough; pricking; piercing. [R.] "Helping all urchin blasts." Milton.

Ur"chin (û"ch&ibreve;n), n. [OE. urchon, irchon, a hedgehog, OF. ireçon, eriçon, heriçon, herichon, F. hérisson, a derivative fr. L. ericius, from er a hedgehog, for her; akin to Gr. chh`r. Cf. Herisson.]

1. (Zoöl.) A hedgehog.

2. (Zoöl.) A sea urchin. See Sea urchin.

3. A mischievous elf supposed sometimes to take the form a hedgehog. "We 'll dress [them] like urchins, ouphes, and fairies." Shak.

4. A pert or roguish child; -- now commonly used only of a boy.

And the urchins that stand with their thievish eyes
Forever on watch ran off each with a prize.

You did indeed dissemble, you urchin you; but where's the girl that won't dissemble for an husband?

5. One of a pair in a series of small card cylinders, arranged around a carding drum; -- so called from its fancied resemblance to the hedgehog. Knight.

Ur"chin, a. Rough; pricking; piercing. [R.] "Helping all urchin blasts." Milton.

• A mischievous child from a poor neighborhood.
  
• (Archaic) A hedgehog.