churl

[ churl ]

noun

1. a rude, boorish, or surly person.
2. a peasant; rustic.
3. a stingy person; miser; skinflint:

   He was a churl in his affections.

4. English History. a freeman of the lowest rank.

churl

/ tʃɜːl /

noun

1. a surly ill-bred person
2. archaic.
   a farm labourer
3. a variant spelling of ceorl

Word History and Origins

Origin of churl¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English cherl, Old English ceorl “male human being, man, freeman (of the lowest class)”; cognate with Dutch kerel, German Kerl “guy, fellow, chap”; akin to carl

Word History and Origins

Origin of churl¹

Old English ceorl; related to Old Norse karl, Middle Low German kerle, Greek gerōn old man

Example Sentences

It promised December after December of piqued arguments and cascading overreactions, churls chiming in from all sides, with no argument essentially lame.

From Washington Post

Only a churl would lament the existence of these testaments to the out-of-nowhere potential of a great pop hit.

From Los Angeles Times

And you’d have to be a churl not to like it.

From Washington Post

Fondness for the Brown years is a niche sentiment in British politics, but only the churls deny that he was a substantial figure.

From The Guardian

But you’d be an awful churl to insist upon making the argument.

From The Guardian