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Webster 1913 Edition

Purlieu

Pur′lieu

,
Noun.
[Corrupted (by influence of
lieu
place) fr. OF.
puralée
,
poralée
(equiv. to LL.
perambulatio
a survey of boundaries, originally, a going through);
por
(L.
pro
, confused, however, with L.
per
through) +
alée
. See
Pro-
, and
Alley
.]
[Written also
pourlieu
.]
1.
Originally, the ground near a royal forest, which, having been unlawfully added to the forest, was afterwards severed from it, and disafforested so as to remit to the former owners their rights.
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
In some
purlieu
two gentle fawns at play.
Milton.
2.
Hence, the outer portion of any place; an adjacent district; environs; neighborhood.
“The purlieus of St. James.”
brokers had been incessantly plying for custom in the
purlieus
of the court.
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition

Purlieu

PURLIEU

,
Noun.
pur'lu. A border; a limit; a certain limited extent or district; originally, the ground near a royal forest, which being severed from it, was made purlieu,that is, pure or free from the forest laws.

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