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guttersnipe. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
guttersnipe, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
guttersnipe in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
guttersnipe you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From gutter + snipe.
Pronunciation
Noun
guttersnipe (plural guttersnipes)
- (derogatory) A person of the lowest social or economic class.
- 1980, Bernard MacLaverty, 'Lamb' (novel), (Chapter 6, at page 51 in the 1981 King Penguin paperback edition):
- "Do not worry, Mrs Kane, we will return you a different boy. The guttersnipe you bring us will not be the boy you get back."
- (derogatory) A street urchin.
1912 (date written), [George] Bernard Shaw, “Pygmalion”, in Androcles and the Lion, Overruled, Pygmalion, London: Constable and Company, published 1916, →OCLC, Act II, page 123:Never lose a chance: it doesnt come everyday. I shall make a duchess of this draggletailed guttersnipe.
- (slang, dated) A small poster, suitable for a kerbstone.
- (US, slang, dated) A broker who sold securities in the street.