Definition
A derogatory term for a poor, ragged child or street urchin, particularly one who scavenges in gutters or lives on the streets; more broadly, any disreputable or vulgar person of low social standing. The term carries strong class connotations and is now considered archaic or offensive.
Example Usage
In Victorian literature, the protagonist often encounters guttersnipes begging in the London streets.
Origin
From gutter (the street drainage channel where poor children played) + snipe (possibly from the image of pecking or poking about), or from snipe meaning a small, insignificant person.
Fun Fact
The term became particularly common in 19th-century British literature and social commentary, reflecting anxieties about urban poverty and class boundaries.
Related Terms
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See “guttersnipe” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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