Date:  Thu, 18 Jan 1996 11:23:02 -0500

From:  "Winfield, Laurie" <lwinfield[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RINET.HUNTON.COM>

Subject: "street arab"



Upon seeing "urchin" used as a clue for "arab" in two cross-word puzzles

(one the NY Times), a friend asked me what the connection was, and whether

it was derogatory. I found "street arab" in Webster's 1981 New Collegiate

Dictionary, but it is not to be found in Webster's Unabridged from 1976. I

assume the nomadic life is the common thread but would welcome correction.

 Main question is, isn't this a derogatory term and, if so, why is it not

marked as offensive or pejorative in the dictionary? Also, why would it be

listed in the smaller, later dictionary and not in the larger, earlier one?

 Seems to buck the PC trend.

Best regards.



Laurie Winfield

lwinfield[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]hunton.com