Ragamuffin

The crossword clue “Ragamuffin is WAIF” is asking for a word that is synonymous with “ragamuffin” and can be defined as “waif.” A ragamuffin is typically a person, especially a child, who is poorly dressed and unkempt. Whereas, a waif is a person, especially a child, who is without guardianship or resources and is in need of help. So, the word that fits both definitions is “urchin,” which means a mischievous child who is poorly dressed and often associated with poverty and has no one to care for them. Therefore, the answer to the crossword question could be “urchin.”