gamin

[ gam-in ]
See synonyms for gamin on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a neglected boy left to run about the streets; street urchin.

Origin of gamin

1
From French, dating back to 1830–40, originally boy assisting a glassblower, young boy; of uncertain origin

Words Nearby gamin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gamin in a sentence

  • Now began what she called her literary school-boy life (vie d'ecolier litteraire), her vie de gamin.

  • Little cared for by his father, he was brought up by his grandfather, a tailor, who let him roam the streets as a gamin.

  • Master and dog were hustled outside the gate and into a rabble of jeering slum gamin.

    Greyfriars Bobby | Eleanor Atkinson
  • "Neither Georges nor the Dragon are honest souls enough to trust themselves with their cups," said the knowing gamin.

  • She has been scolding me, though if it comes to that I gave it her back with far more gamin in my tongue.

    Dodo's Daughter | E. F. Benson

British Dictionary definitions for gamin

gamin

/ (ˈɡæmɪn, French ɡamɛ̃) /


noun
  1. a street urchin; waif

Origin of gamin

1
from French

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012