Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Churl
Churl
,Noun.
[AS.
ceorl
a freeman of the lowest rank, man, husband; akin to D. karel
, kerel
, G. kerl
, Dan. & Sw. karl
, Icel. karl
, and to the E. proper name Charles
(orig., man
, male
), and perh. to Skr. jāra
lover. Cf. Carl
, Charles’s Wain
.] 1.
A rustic; a countryman or laborer.
“A peasant or churl.” Spenser.
Your rank is all reversed; let men of cloth
Bow to the stalwart
Bow to the stalwart
churls
in overalls. Emerson.
2.
A rough, surly, ill-bred man; a boor.
A
churl's
courtesy rarely comes, but either for gain or falsehood. Sir P. Sidney.
3.
A selfish miser; an illiberal person; a niggard.
Like to some rich
churl
hoarding up his pelf. Drayton.
Churl
,Adj.
Churlish; rough; selfish.
[Obs.]
Ford.
Webster 1828 Edition
Churl
CHURL
, n.1.
A rude, surly, ill-bred man.2.
A rustic; a countryman, or laborer.3.
A miser; a niggard. Is. 32.