churl

churl
churl O.E. ceorl "peasant, freeman, man without rank," from P.Gmc. *kerlaz, *karlaz (Cf. O.Fris. zerl "man, fellow," M.L.G. kerle, Du. kerel, Ger. Kerl "man, husband," O.N. karl "old man, man"). It had various meaning in early M.E., including "man of the common people," "a country man," "husbandman," "free peasant;" by 1300, it meant "bondman, villain," also "fellow of low birth or rude manners." For words for "common man" that acquire an insulting flavor over time, compare BOOR (Cf. boor), VILLAIN (Cf. villain). In this case, however, the same word also has come to mean "king" in many languages (e.g. Lith. karalius, Czech kral, Polish krol, Hungarian kiraly) via CHARLEMAGNE (Cf. Charlemagne).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Churl — Churl, n. [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. j[=a]ra lover. Cf. {Carl}, {Charles s Wain}.]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • churl — churl; churl·ish; churl·ish·ly; churl·ish·ness; …   English syllables

  • churl — (chûrl) n. 1) A rude, boorish person. See Synonyms at BOOR(Cf. ↑boor). 2) A miserly person. 3) a) A ceorl. b) A medieval English peasant. ╂ [Middle English, from Old English ceorl, peasant.] …   Word Histories

  • Churl — Churl, a. Churlish; rough; selfish. [Obs.] Ford. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • churl — n *boor, lout, clown, clodhopper, bumpkin, hick, yokel, rube Antonyms: *gentleman, aristocrat …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • churl — [n] rude and ill bred, a boor; person overly concerned with saving money beast, chuff, clodhopper*, miser, mucker*, niggard*, oaf, peasant, provincial, rustic, tightwad, yokel; concept 423 …   New thesaurus

  • churl — ► NOUN 1) an impolite and mean spirited person. 2) archaic a peasant. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • churl — [chʉrl] n. [ME cherl < OE ceorl, peasant, freeman: for IE base see CORN1] 1. CEORL 2. a farm laborer; peasant 3. a surly, ill bred person; boor 4. a selfish or mean person …   English World dictionary

  • Churl — A churl (etymologically the same name as Charles / Carl and Old High German karal), in its earliest Old English (Anglo Saxon) meaning, was simply a man , but the word soon came to mean a non servile peasant , still spelt ċeorl(e), and denoting… …   Wikipedia

  • churl — /cherrl/, n. 1. a rude, boorish, or surly person. 2. a peasant; rustic. 3. a niggard; miser: He was a churl in his affections. 4. Eng. Hist. a freeman of the lowest rank. [bef. 900; ME cherl, OE ceorl man, freeman; c. D kerel, G Kerl; akin to… …   Universalium

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