/ˈɡæmɪn/
OriginBorrowed from French gamin (“street urchin; young boy”), apparently an “eastern dialect” word of unknown origin.
- also, attributive, datedA homeless boy; a male street urchin; also (more generally), a cheeky, street-smart boy.
“Dearest Eloise,— There is one little and perhaps insignificant French cake, which I feel certain would soon become a favourite in the cottage, more particularly amongst its juvenile inhabitants. It is”
“The Paris gamin is respectful, ironical, and insolent. He has bad teeth, because he is poorly fed, and his stomach suffers and fine eyes because he has genius. [...] To sum up all once more, the gamin”
“Here, in front, the deserted street was white and black and silent, under the electric lamps. All the lonelier for two wretched gamins, counting their dirty sous, and draggled newspapers.”
Formsgamins(plural)