| 释义 |
churl
\ˈchərl, -ə̄l, -əil\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English cherl, churl, from Old English ceorl man, husband, freeman of the lowest rank; akin to Old High German karal man, husband, Old Norse karl, Greek gerōn old man, gēras old age — more at corn
1.
a. obsolete : a male person : man, husband
b. : villein, serf, bondman
2. in early England : a man without rank : a man in the lowest rank of freemen below the earl and thane : yeoman 2a
3. : rustic, countryman, peasant
< not framed for village churls, but for high dames and mighty earls — Sir Walter Scott >
4.
a. : a person (as a rustic) who is ungracious, mean, ill-bred, and rude
< the boy might well believe this churl was lying — George Meredith >
b. : a stingy, grasping, and morose person
< when a few words can rescue misery … I hate a man who can be a churl of them — Tobias Smollett >
Synonyms: see boor |