Urchin is the old English term for hedgehog. As such, it is applied to many things that take a similar form to a hedgehog:

• Children (especially boys) who behave in an annoying manner are commonly called urchins. This comes from the scrunched-face appearance of both hedgehogs and unruly children.
• Sea urchins are spiny sea creatures that are round and prickly like hedgehogs.
• In old theater, urchin was a common name for an elf or fairy that took on a prickly appearance.

It may also refer to:

• The Urchin Software Corporation, a San Diego, California based web analytics company, now acquired by Google.
• Urchin (software), a series of web analytics developed by the Urchin Software Corporation
• Urchin (band), a band led by Dave Murray and Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden.
• Urchin (film) ^*', a film about a homeless boy living in underground tunnels, written and directed by John Harlacher.

External links

• Urchin at The Online Etymology Dictionary