land on the edge of a forest that was once included within the bounds of the royal forest but was later separated although still subject to some of the forest laws, esp regarding hunting
2. (usually plural)
a neighbouring area; outskirts
3. (often plural)
a place one frequents; haunt
4. rare
a district or suburb, esp one that is poor or squalid
Word origin
C15 purlewe, from Anglo-French puralé a going through (influenced also by Old French lieu place), from Old French puraler to traverse, from pur through + aler to go
purlieu in American English
(ˈpɜrlˌju; ˈpɜrˌlu)
noun
1. Obsolete
an outlying part of a forest, exempted from forest laws and returned to private owners
2.
a place that one visits often or habitually; haunt
3. [pl.]
a.
bounds; limits
b.
environs
4.
an outlying part, as of a city
Word origin
altered (infl. by Fr lieu, place) < Anglo-Fr puralee < OFr puralée < puraler, to go through < pur-, por- (< L pro-, for, but used for per-, through) + aler, to go: see alley1
Synonyms of 'purlieu'
outskirts, limits, borders, suburbs
stamping ground, territory, resort, patch
More Synonyms of purlieu
1 (noun)
Definition
a neighbouring area
Synonyms
outskirts
limits
borders
suburbs
confines
fringes
neighbourhood
the loss of woodlands in the neighbourhood of large towns
precincts
vicinity
Police say the killer may still be in this vicinity.
periphery
Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe.
environs
2 (noun)
Definition
a place one frequents
Synonyms
stamping ground
territory
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
resort
a genteel resort on the south coast
patch
haunt
a favourite summer haunt for yachtsmen
hang-out (informal)
He already knew most of London's teenage hangouts.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hang-out
Definition
a place where someone spends a lot of time
He already knew most of London's teenage hangouts.
Synonyms
haunt,
joint (slang),
resort,
dive (slang),
den
in the sense of haunt
Definition
a place visited frequently
a favourite summer haunt for yachtsmen
Synonyms
meeting place,
resort,
hangout (informal),
den,
rendezvous,
stamping ground,
gathering place
in the sense of neighbourhood
Definition
the immediate environment
the loss of woodlands in the neighbourhood of large towns
Synonyms
vicinity,
confines,
proximity,
precincts,
environs,
purlieus
Nearby words of
purlieu
puritanical
puritanism
purity
purlieu
purloin
purple
purport
Synonyms of 'purlieu'
purlieu
Explore 'purlieu' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of periphery
Definition
the boundary or edge of an area or group
Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe.
Synonyms
boundary,
edge,
border,
skirt,
fringe,
verge (British),
brink,
outskirts,
rim,
hem,
brim,
perimeter,
circumference,
outer edge,
ambit
in the sense of resort
Definition
a place to which many people go for holidays
a genteel resort on the south coast
Synonyms
holiday centre,
spot,
retreat,
haunt,
refuge,
tourist centre,
watering place (British)
in the sense of territory
Definition
the geographical area under the control of a particular government
They deny that any of their territory is under rebel control.
Synonyms
district,
area,
land,
region,
state,
country,
sector,
zone,
province,
patch,
turf (slang),
domain,
terrain,
tract,
bailiwick
in the sense of vicinity
Definition
the area immediately surrounding a place
Police say the killer may still be in this vicinity.