[MR] Terminologies

[Kelly Tessena]

On 4/28/06, jbrmm266 at aol.com <jbrmm266 at aol.com> wrote:
>
> Adriana writes:
>
> <As far as kids, I've always been partial to the term "urchin."  It does
> date back to Middle English, though sadly I don't have an OED in front of me
> to see if that particular meaning is period.  >
>
> Well, literally, an urchin is a hedgehog.  And I've always heard or read
> that the term, applied to children, is pejoritive, usually referring to the
> children of the lowest classes.


Thanks very much for the additional etymology information; I love learning
about the history of words. :)

I've seen it as less negative than that, referring to children who are
unruly or mischevious, but not necessarily bad.  Of course, it's probably my
middle school teaching background that makes me inclined to refer to *all*
kids as "urchins."  That and my slightly warped sense of humor.

If I use it, it's with that in mind, meant in a kidding, but not actually
pejorative, way.   (I also don't use it if there's a chance it will be
misunderstood, since I wouldn't want a parent to think I meant any insult to
their child.)

Adriana