homeless child; street urchin; waif
Refers to a child who wanders the streets without a home, often due to poverty or abandonment. The term can carry a somewhat dated or literary feel; in modern contexts, ホームレスの子供 or more specific social welfare terms may be used.
After the war, many homeless children filled the streets.
The novel depicts the harsh life of a street urchin.
Compound of 浮浪 (ふろう, 'wandering, vagrancy') and 児 (じ, 'child'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term has been used since at least the early 20th century to describe homeless children.