larrikin
larrikin Lexical Profile
larrikin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Australian A mischievous, irreverent, or boisterous person, especially one who disregards social conventions or authority in a good-hearted, playful manner.
"Despite his reputation as a lovable larrikin, he took his community responsibilities seriously."
Australian A rowdy, unruly young street hooligan or tough (chiefly historical).
"Late nineteenth-century newspapers frequently complained about gangs of larrikins loitering on city corners."
• adjective
Australian Characterized by irreverent, mischievous, or boisterous behavior and a good-natured disregard for social conventions or authority.
"The comedian's larrikin humor endeared him to audiences across the country."
Word Nuance & Usage
Originally a pejorative 19th-century term for violent street hoodlums in Australia, 'larrikin' has undergone significant amelioration and is now widely used with affection to describe someone with a good-hearted, anti-authoritarian, and mischievous spirit.
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in Australian English in the late 1860s, probably derived from British dialect (specifically Cornish or Worcestershire) 'larrikin' meaning a mischievous youth, or related to the dialect verb 'larrack' meaning to frolic or go about in a boisterous manner.