larrikin
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A young, brash, and impertinent, and possibly violent, troublemaker, especially one who is a gang member; a hooligan.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
Australian English
Examples
To keep me out of trouble I was sent to the wood-gang Cascade an out station about two miles from headquarters. On arriving at this place the following dialogue passed between me and the overseer: […] "A bit of a larrikin, T——, but it won't do here, you know." "No odds about that—what's the work?"
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A high-spirited person who playfully rebels against authority and conventional norms; a maverick or scamp.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “larrikin” mean?
A young, brash, and impertinent, and possibly violent, troublemaker, especially one who is a gang member; a hooligan.
Is “larrikin” formal or informal?
larrikin is generally slang.