churlish

comparative more churlish · superlative most churlish

1. Of or pertaining to a serf, peasant, or rustic.

   […] the eloquence and truth of his tribute stands in marked contrast to Kramer's churlish caricature of Kael as a happy pig wallowing in the dirt.

   1996, Jeet Heer, Gravitas, Autumn 1996

   Synonyms: rustic

2. Rude, surly, ungracious.First known use late 14th c.

   [A]nd it is without all controuerſie, that learning doth make the minds of men gentle, generous, maniable, and pliant to gouernment; whereas Ignorance makes them churliſh, thwart, and mutinous; […]

   1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 11, recto

   3 more examples

   A Churliſh Envious Curr vvas gotten into a Manger, and there lay Growling and Snarling to keep the Horſes from their Provender. The Dog Eat None himſelf, and yet rather Ventur'd the Starving his Own Carcaſe then he would ſuffer any thing elfe to be the Better for't.

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] LXXVI. A Dog in a Manger.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 75

   “Please, can't you just leave the child with Huggie?” “Stop calling him "the child," Richard! His name is Rocket! And I'm not leaving him with your crappy robot!” “Sally! Why, that's almost churlish. And you're visible! What's this really about?” “You can't replace family with a robot, Richard. We need real human affection!” “That's why Huggie's programmed to simulate it, sweetness.” “[groans] Please, Richard, let me go.” “Yes, yes, perhaps the fresh air will, uh, calm the female --” “Don't strain yourself, Richard. Good bye.”

   2006 August 6, Jackson Publick, “Twenty Years to Midnight” (12:38 from the start), in The Venture Bros., season 2, episode 5, spoken by Professor Impossible (Stephen Colbert)

   Especially in the post-2008 recession, the need for charity was more pronounced than ever, and so it seemed churlish, even Scrooge-like, to question whether the Gateses really knew as much about solving the world’s problems as they claimed.

   2021 May 25, Linsey McGoey, “Why Billionaires Like Bill Gates Can’t Fix the Problems They Helped Create”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: cross-grained, rude, surly, ungracious

3. Stingy or grudging.

   Synonyms: grudging, illiberal, miserly, niggardly, stingy

4. Difficult to till, lacking pliancy; unmanageable.

   1730–1774, Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread, And force a churlish soil for scanty bread.