Main Entry:

pur·lieu

Pronunciation:

\ˈpərl-(ˌ)yü, ˈpər-(ˌ)lü\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English purlewe land severed from an English royal forest by perambulation, from Anglo-French puralé perambulation, from puraler to travel through, measure, from pur- thoroughly + aler to go — more at purchase

Date:

15th century

1 a: an outlying or adjacent district bplural : environs, neighborhood2 a: a frequently visited place : haunt bplural : confines, bounds