noun

1. Archaic a hedgehog
2. sea urchin
3. a small child, esp. a boy, who is poor, ragged, etc. and often mischievous or undisciplined
4. Obsolete an elf

Etymology: ME irchoun < OFr heriçun < L ericius, hedgehog < er, hedgehog, for earlier *her < IE base *ĝher-, to bristle, be stiff > L horrere, to bristle, Gr chēr, porcupine