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churl

noun \ ˈchər(-ə)l \

Definition of churl

1 :ceorl

2 :a medieval peasant

3 :rustic, countryman

4 a :a rude ill-bred person

b :a stingy morose person

See churl defined for kids

Examples of churl in a Sentence

as far as he was concerned, anyone from outside the city was a backwater churl
don't bother asking for donations at that house—the churl who lives there believes that charity begins and ends at home

Origin and Etymology of churl

Middle English, from Old English ceorl man, ceorl; akin to Old Norse karl man, husband

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

churl Synonyms

Synonyms

bumpkin, chawbacon, hick, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hillbilly, provincial, rube, rustic, yokel

Antonyms

cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate

Related Words

boor, clod, clown, gawk, lout, oaf; greenhorn, tenderfoot; peasant, peon; backwoodsman, mountaineer

Near Antonyms

slicker, smoothy (or smoothie); metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite

Learn More about churl

See words that rhyme with churl Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for churl Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about churl

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Examples: churl in a Sentence