noun
Kansai dialect word for a child, often with a rough or mischievous nuance; can be affectionate or mildly derogatory depending on context. Related to じゃり (gravel/sand) suggesting a kid who plays outside.
See also: じゃり
近所のじゃりんこが公園で遊んでるわ。
The neighborhood kids are playing in the park.
あのじゃりんこ、またいたずらしてるで。
That brat is up to mischief again.
Standard neutral word for child. じゃりん子 is dialectal and carries a rougher, more familiar tone.
Derived from じゃり (gravel/sand) with the diminutive suffix ん子, originally referring to a child who plays in the dirt. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is strongly associated with Kansai dialect.