1
: a boy who hangs around on the streets : urchin
2

Examples of gamin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The door is opened by Ms. Etienne, 75 — a wry, sinewy woman with a gamin haircut. Ben Brantley, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2019 Liliane Montevecchi, a glittering French gamin who became a cabaret star in Paris, a pal of Marlon Brando’s in Hollywood, and the Tony Award-winning ‘‘muse’’ of director Tommy Tune on Broadway, died June 29 at her home in Manhattan. Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, earlier, "glassmaker's assistant, young boy," of obscure origin

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gamin was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near gamin

Cite this Entry

“Gamin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamin. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
: an often poor boy who spends much of his time on the streets
2

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