1550s, "dispossessed," past-participle adjective from deprive. As a euphemism for the condition of children who lack a stable home life, by 1945.
Entries linking to deprived
deprive v.
mid-14c., depriven, "to take away; to divest, strip, bereave; divest of office," from Old French depriver, from Medieval Latin deprivare, from de- "entirely" (see de-) + Latin privare "to deprive, rob, strip" of anything; "to deliver from" anything (see private (adj.) ). From late 14c. as "hinder from possessing." Replaced Old English bedælan. Related: Deprived; depriving.