guttersnipe

[ guht-er-snahyp ]

noun

1. a person belonging to or characteristic of the lowest social group in a city.
2. a street urchin.

guttersnipe

/ ˈɡʌtəˌsnaɪp /

noun

1. a child who spends most of his time in the streets, esp in a slum area
2. a person regarded as having the behaviour, morals, etc, of one brought up in squalor

Derived Forms

• ˈgutterˌsnipish, adjective

Other Words From

• gutter·snipish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of guttersnipe¹

First recorded in 1855–60; gutter + snipe

Word History and Origins

Origin of guttersnipe¹

C19: originally a name applied to the common snipe (the bird), then to a person who gathered refuse from gutters in city streets

Example Sentences

By this juncture, the only thing we know for sure is that Ferrara, bless his guttersnipe soul, is still bracingly, adamantly himself.

From New York Times

“What are we going to do,” the queen despaired, “about my sister’s guttersnipe life?”

From Washington Post

Mr. Paul added, “People need to wake up and not be so, sort of overwhelmed by celebrity that they take out-and-out falsehoods and ad hominem attacks from — really a guttersnipe like Jon Stewart.”

From Washington Times

Paul responded on the same network Thursday evening, calling Stewart a “guttersnipe” and blasting the legislation as a “completely irresponsible” measure that has received support only because senators are “overwhelmed” by the comedian’s celebrity.

From Washington Post

It’s Jekyll and Hyde time as he careens from his stately self behind the rostrum to the aging guttersnipe allegedly selling his influence to all and sundry.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• homeless person
• unhoused person