churl (cherl)

and a. [ G. kerl ), a man, fellow, churl: see carl.] I. n. 1. A rustic; a peasant; a countryman or laborer. It was not framed for village churls , But for high dames and mighty earls. Scott , L. of L. M., Int. Specifically-2. In early Eng . hist., one of the lowest cla of freemen; one who held land from or worked on the estate of his lord. The word Churl has come to be a word of moral repro But in the primary meaning of the words, bation. Eorl and Ceorl for in an exhaustive division of the free members of the state. The Ceorl is the simple freeman, the mere unit in the army or in the a embly. E. A. Freeman , Norman Conquest, I. 55. 3. A coarse, rude, surly, sullen, or ill-tempered IMG:content-0397.png:[blocks in formation] The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. Isa. xxxii. 5. When a few words will rescue misery out of her distre , I hate the man who can be a churl of them. Sterne , Sentimental Journey, p. 15. II. a. Churlish. Ford . churlish (chėrʻlish), a . [ ceorl isc, cierlisc, cyrlisc, of the rank of a churl, -isc : see churl and -ish1 .] 1. Like or pertaining to a churl. (a) Rude; illbred; surly; austere; sullen; rough in temper; uncivil. Ill-nurtured, crooked, churlish , harsh in voice. Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 134. But that which troubleth me most is my churlish carriage to him when he was under his distre . Bunyan , Pilgrim's Progre , p. 235. Much like uncourteous, unthankful, and churlish guests, which, when they have with good and dainty meat well filled their bellies, depart home, giving no thanks to the feast maker. Sir T. More, Utopia, Ded., p. 14. 996 Take it [iron] out of the furnace, and it grows hard again; nay, worse, churlish and unmalleable. Abp. Sancroft, Sermons. Where the bleak Swi their stormy mansions tread, And force a churlish soil for scanty bread. Goldsmith, Traveller, 1. 168. = Syn. Clownish, Loutish , etc. See boorish . churlishly (cher'lish-li), adv. In a churlish manner; rudely; roughly. churlishne (cher'lish-nes), n. [ Small need to ble Or curse your sordid churlishne , Because methinks, without fresh curse, Each day that comes shall still be worse Than the past day. William Morris, Earthly Paradise, III. 72.