Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Churl

Churl

,
Noun.
[AS.
ceorl
a freeman of the lowest rank, man, husband; akin to D.
karel
,
kerel
, G.
kerl
, Dan. & Sw.
karl
, Icel.
karl
, and to the E. proper name
Charles
(orig.,
man
,
male
), and perh. to Skr.
jāra
lover. Cf.
Carl
,
Charles’s Wain
.]
1.
A rustic; a countryman or laborer.
“A peasant or churl.”
Spenser.
Your rank is all reversed; let men of cloth
Bow to the stalwart
churls
in overalls.
Emerson.
2.
A rough, surly, ill-bred man; a boor.
A
churl's
courtesy rarely comes, but either for gain or falsehood.
Sir P. Sidney.
3.
A selfish miser; an illiberal person; a niggard.
Like to some rich
churl
hoarding up his pelf.
Drayton.

Churl

,
Adj.
Churlish; rough; selfish.
[Obs.]
Ford.

Webster 1828 Edition


Churl

CHURL

, n.
1.
A rude, surly, ill-bred man.
2.
A rustic; a countryman, or laborer.
3.
A miser; a niggard. Is. 32.

Definition 2024


churl

churl

English

Noun

churl (plural churls)

  1. A rustic; a countryman or labourer; a peasant.
    • Emerson
      Your rank is all reversed; let men of cloth / Bow to the stalwart churls in overalls.
  2. A rough, surly, ill-bred person; a boor.
    • Sir Philip Sidney
      A churl's courtesy rarely comes, but either for gain or falsehood.
  3. A selfish miser; an illiberal person; a niggard.
    • Drayton
      like to some rich churl hoarding up his pelf
  4. (Theodism) a freedman, ranked below a thane but above a thrall

Translations

See also

Anagrams