Children were commonly referred to as "brats" or "urchins" in the 1500s. These terms were often used in a derogatory manner, reflecting the low status of children in society at the time. Children were seen as property of their parents and had few rights or protections. They were often expected to work from a young age and were subject to harsh discipline.
The term "brat" was used to refer to a child who was noisy, ill-behaved, or disobedient. The term "urchin" was used to refer to a child who was dirty, ragged, or homeless. These terms were used to describe children from all social classes, but they were particularly applied to children from poor families.