Ragamuffin
noun
A child dressed in dirty or torn clothes.
The little ragamuffin begged for food on the streets.
Often appears as...
- little ragamuffin
- street ragamuffin
noun
A term used in a loving or playful way to refer to a mischievous child.
You messy little ragamuffin, you've got chocolate all over your face!
Often appears as...
- little ragamuffin
- playful ragamuffin
Usage tips
Approving
Colloquial
noun
A child dressed in dirty or torn clothes.
The little ragamuffin begged for food on the streets.
Often appears as...
- little ragamuffin
- street ragamuffin
noun
A term used in a loving or playful way to refer to a mischievous child.
You messy little ragamuffin, you've got chocolate all over your face!
Often appears as...
- little ragamuffin
- playful ragamuffin
Usage tips
Approving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Originally denoted poorly clothed children but evolved to include neglected appearance in general.
That actor really looks like a ragamuffin in his role as a street orphan.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Carries a slightly negative or pitiful undertone when describing someone's appearance.
He came back looking like a ragamuffin after the camping trip.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Imagery
Evokes a strong visual image of neglect or poverty, often used for emotive effect.
The documentary showed ragamuffins scavenging through the city dump.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Originally denoted poorly clothed children but evolved to include neglected appearance in general.
That actor really looks like a ragamuffin in his role as a street orphan.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Carries a slightly negative or pitiful undertone when describing someone's appearance.
He came back looking like a ragamuffin after the camping trip.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Imagery
Evokes a strong visual image of neglect or poverty, often used for emotive effect.
The documentary showed ragamuffins scavenging through the city dump.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Originally denoted poorly clothed children but evolved to include neglected appearance in general.
That actor really looks like a ragamuffin in his role as a street orphan.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Carries a slightly negative or pitiful undertone when describing someone's appearance.
He came back looking like a ragamuffin after the camping trip.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Imagery
Evokes a strong visual image of neglect or poverty, often used for emotive effect.
The documentary showed ragamuffins scavenging through the city dump.
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Quote examples
Natasha Lyonne
American Actress
I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or just been one. I certainly liked entertaining people and making jokes, but I don't know necessarily if that's what your child is prone to that you should necessarily put them in a real working industry at six years old.
Quote examples
Christopher Buckley
American Novelist
I remember dawn coming up over the Strait of Malacca; ragamuffin kids on the dock in Sumatra laughing as they pelted us with bananas; collecting dead flying fish off the deck and bringing them to our sweet, fat, toothless Danish cook to fry up for breakfast.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Our parents had Ph.D.s, but we were dirty ragamuffin children. I spent a huge amount of time by myself. I daydreamed and learned how to be alone and not be lonely.
Quote examples
Jacob Bronowski
English Scientist
It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it.
Quote examples
Natasha Lyonne
American Actress
I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or just been one. I certainly liked entertaining people and making jokes, but I don't know necessarily if that's what your child is prone to that you should necessarily put them in a real working industry at six years old.
Quote examples
Christopher Buckley
American Novelist
I remember dawn coming up over the Strait of Malacca; ragamuffin kids on the dock in Sumatra laughing as they pelted us with bananas; collecting dead flying fish off the deck and bringing them to our sweet, fat, toothless Danish cook to fry up for breakfast.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
Our parents had Ph.D.s, but we were dirty ragamuffin children. I spent a huge amount of time by myself. I daydreamed and learned how to be alone and not be lonely.
Quote examples
Jacob Bronowski
English Scientist
It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it.
Example 1 of 4
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