Etymology Dictionary

URCHIN,  a hedgehog; a goblin, imp, a small child.  (F.,—L.)   In Shak. it means (1) a hedgehog, Temp. i. 2. 326, Titus, ii. 3. 101; (2) a goblin, Merry Wives, iv. 4. 49.   Spelt urchone in Palsgrave.   M.E. vrchon, vrchone, Prompt. Parv., see the note; also spelt irchon, Early E. Psalter, Ps. ciii. v. 18 (l. 42); see Specimens of English, ed. Morris and Skeat (Glossary).—O.F. ireçon, a hedgehog; also spelt heriçon, eriçon (Burguy); mod. F. hérisson.   Formed, with dimin. suffix -on (as if from a Lat. acc. erici-onem*), from Lat. ericius, a hedge-hog.   β. Ericius is a lengthened form from ēr (gen. ēris), a hedge-hog; put for hēr, and cognate with Gk. χήρ, a hedge-hog.   The Gk. χήρ is allied to χέρσος, Attic χέῤῥος, hard, dry, stiff; and Lat. ēr is allied to horrere, to be bristly, hirsutus, bristly.—✔GHARS, to be rough; whence also Skt. hrish, to bristle; see Horror.   Hence urchin = the little bristly animal. [†]

ADDENDA

See note on Formidable.