coistrel

[ koi-struhl ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. a scoundrel; knave.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coistrel¹

1570–80; Middle English custrell, apparently < Middle French coustillier, coustelier, one armed with a cou ( s ) telle dagger (feminine derivative of coutel knife < Latin cultellus; -ier ² ), with -r- perhaps from quystroun knave, page, scullion < Anglo-French ( Old French coistron < Vulgar Latin *coquistrō )

Example Sentences

Is a winter grasshopper all the year long that looks back upon harvest with a lean pair of cheeks, never sets forward to meet it; his malice sucks up the greatest part of his own venom, and therewith impoisoneth himself: and this sickness rises rather of self-opinion or over-great expedition; so in the conceit of his own over-worthiness, like a coistrel he strives to fill himself with wind, and flies against it.

From Project Gutenberg

Now sure this coistrel makes me smile, To see his greedy gaping thus for gain, First hardly got, then kept with harder pain, As you ere long by proof shall see full plain.

From Project Gutenberg

The word is also confused with "coistrel" = "groom", "varlet"; cf.

From Project Gutenberg

He was himself a lord of language and had made himself a coistrel gentleman and he had written Romeo and Juliet.

From Project Gutenberg