A derogatory term for a child or person of low social standing, or a young ruffian; one associated with the gutters.
From 'gutter' with the diminutive suffix '-ling' (Old English origin, meaning 'young' or 'inferior'). The suffix appears in words like 'duckling' or 'weakling,' historically marking something as lesser or younger.
The '-ling' suffix actually made words kinder by making them diminutive—'gutterling' sounds almost pitiable rather than purely contemptuous, which is why it was used for street children in historical literature rather than harsher terms.
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