Definition

Noun: - A homeless child, typically a boy, who lives on the streets, often having been abandoned and surviving without a fixed home or guardians. This term is considered dated and frequently offensive.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a child living in extreme poverty and homelessness in an urban environment. Due to its pejorative connotations, it is rarely used in modern, respectful discourse.
• Example: "The Victorian novel often featured a street arab as a character to highlight social problems."

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily found in historical or literary contexts describing 19th or early 20th-century urban life. Its use today is generally avoided in favor of more neutral terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Street urchin (noun): A more common, though still somewhat dated, synonym that carries a similar meaning but is often perceived as slightly less harsh.
• Gamin (noun): A term, sometimes of French origin, for a street child, often implying a mischievous or resourceful boy.
• Waif (noun): A homeless and neglected child, often implying helplessness or being lost.

Synonyms

• Homeless child
• Ragamuffin (often implies a child in ragged clothes)
• Urchin (often implies a mischievous child, sometimes from a poor background)

Important Note on Usage

• Offensive Connotation: The term 'street arab' is historically derogatory and offensive. It is considered insensitive and stigmatizing. It is strongly recommended to use alternative, more respectful language such as "homeless youth," "unaccompanied minor," or "child living on the streets" in contemporary writing and speech.

Noun

1. (sometimes offensive) a homeless boy who has been abandoned and roams the streets