boor

[ boor ]

noun

1. a churlish, rude, or unmannerly person.

   Synonyms: vulgarian, philistine, churl, boob, oaf, lout

2. a country bumpkin; rustic; yokel.
3. peasant.
4. Boer.

boor

/ bʊə /

noun

1. an ill-mannered, clumsy, or insensitive person

Word History and Origins

Origin of boor¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Dutch boer or Low German būr (cognate with German Bauer “farmer”), derivative of unattestest Germanic bū- “to dwell, build, cultivate”; -er ¹; bond ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of boor¹

Old English gebūr ; related to Old High German gibūr farmer, dweller, Albanian būr man; see neighbour

Example Sentences

In an instant, his beach route comment did me a huge kindness and made me feel like an incurious boor.

From Los Angeles Times

Being a misogynist boor may offer temporary gratification, but in the long or even medium term, it will just make men's problems worse.

From Salon

Julianne Moore is his mother, a humorless scold whose coldness and impatience are seemingly understandable, as her son is such an insufferable boor.

From New York Times

The salt suggestion drew howls of outrage from tea-lovers in Britain, where popular stereotype sees Americans as coffee-swilling boors who make tea, if at all, in the microwave.

From Seattle Times

Back in 2016, though, which was apparently the “right time” for Trump, Haley was excoriating him for being a bloviating boor who would set a terrible example for America’s children.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bumpkin
• hick
• peasant