churl

plural churls

1. obsolete except historicalfeudalismA free peasant (as opposed to a serf) of the lowest rank, below an earl and a thane; a freeman; also (more generally), a person without royal or noble status; a commoner.

   [F]rom this time forvvard I do pardon before God all the vvrongs that they haue done, or ſhall doe vnto me, vvhether they vvere, be, or ſhall be done by high or lovv perſon, rich or poore, Gentleman or Churle, vvithout excepting any ſtate or condition.

   1612, [Miguel de Cervantes], “Wherein is Rehearsed the Vnfortunate Aduenture Hapned to Don-Quixote, by Encountring with Certaine Yanguesian Carriers”, in Thomas Shelton, transl., The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] William Stansby, for Ed[ward] Blount and W. Barret, →OCLC, part 3, page 116

2. obsolete except historicalfeudalismA bondman or serf.
3. broadlyderogatoryA rough, surly, ill-bred person; a boor.First known use 14th c.

   [A] churles curtesie rathely comes but either for gaine, or falshood.

   The New Arcadia

   c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

   4 more examples

   Thus ſay the common People that knovv him, A Saint abroad, and a Devil at home: His poor Family finds it ſo, he is ſuch a churl, ſuch a railer at, and ſo unreaſonable vvith his Servants, that they neither knovv hovv to do for, or ſpeak to him.

   1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, pages 106–107

   Since it must be so, and this churl has check'd / Thy gentle spirit, go; […]

   1821, Lord Byron, “Sardanapalus”, in Sardanapalus, a Tragedy; The Two Foscari, a Tragedy; Cain, a Mystery, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 10

   There are graces in the demeanor of a polished and noble person, which are lost upon the eye of a churl.

   1841, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Essay IV. Spiritual Laws.”, in Essays, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, →OCLC, pages 120–121

   "Unmannerly churl!" exclaimed Sybil starting in her chair, her eye flashing lightning, her distended nostril quivering with scorn. "Oh! yes, I am a churl," said Morley; "I know I am a churl. Were I a noble the daughter of the people would perhaps condescend to treat me with less contempt."

   1845, B[enjamin] Disraeli, chapter IV, in Sybil; or The Two Nations. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, book V, page 54

   Synonyms: lout, yokel, bogan, boor, bumpkin, chawbacon, chuff, clenchpoop

4. archaicbroadlyA countryman, a peasant, a rustic.

   And, as the mazy web she whirls, / She sees the surly village-churls, / And the red cloaks of market-girls, / Pass onward from Shalott.

   1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The Lady of Shalott”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, part the second, page 11

   2 more examples

   “A see T’m Baak’ll,” the Bantam recommenced, and again the contortions of a horrible wink were directed at Richard. The boy might well believe this churl was lying, and he did, and was emboldened to exclaim, “You never saw Tom Bakewell set fire to that rick!”

   1859, George Meredith, “A Fine Distinction”, in The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. A History of Father and Son. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, page 179

   Look to yourselves, ye polished gentlemen! / No city airs or arts pass current here. / Your rank is all reversed: let men of cloth / Bow to the stalwart churls in overalls: / They are the doctors of the wilderness, / And we the low-priced laymen.

   1867, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Adirondacs. A Journal. Dedicated to My Fellow-travellers in August, 1858.”, in May-Day and Other Pieces, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, pages 48–49

   Synonyms: carl, fieldling, bucolic, clown, country cousin, countryman, fieldling, harlot

5. archaicbroadlyA person who is stingy, especially with money; a selfish miser, a niggard.

   The vile perſon ſhall be no more called liberall, nor the churle ſayd to be bountifull.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 32:5, column 2

   4 more examples

   Juli[et]. […] VVhats heere? a cup in my true loues hand? / Poiſon I ſee hath bin his timeleſſe end: / O churle [referring to Romeo], drunke all, and left no friendly drop.

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Iuliet. […] (Second Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, […], published 1599, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]

   VVrong not thy faire youth, nor the vvorld depriue / Of that great riches Nature freely lent, / Pitie 'tvvere they by niggardize ſhould thriue. / VVhoſe vvealth by vvaxing craueth to be ſpent, / For vvhich thou after iuſtly ſhall be ſhent; / Like to ſome rich churle burying his pelfe, / Both to vvrong others, and to ſterue himſelfe.

   1605, Michaell Draiton [i.e., Michael Drayton], Poems: […], London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] Ling, →OCLC

   VVithin thine ovvne bud burieſt thy content, / And tender chorle makſt waſt in niggarding: […]

   1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 1”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

   [W]hen a few words will reſcue miſery out of her diſtreſs, I hate the man who can be a churl of them.

   1768, Mr. Yorick [pseudonym; Laurence Sterne], “Calais”, in A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, volume I, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, […], →OCLC, page 26

   Synonyms: carl, skinflint, carl, cheapass, cheapie, cheapskate, cheapo, clutchfist

6. broadlyA freedman, ranked below a thane but above a thrall.