churlish
English
WOTD – 19 October 2007
Etymology
From Middle English churlysshe, cherlissh, from late Old English ċeorlisċ, ċierlisċ (“of or pertaining to churls”), equivalent to churl + -ish.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈtʃɜːlɪʃ/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈtʃɝːlɪʃ/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ɜː(r)lɪʃ
Adjective
churlish (comparative more churlish, superlative most churlish)
- Of or pertaining to a serf, peasant, or rustic.
- 1996, Jeet Heer, Gravitas, Autumn 1996
- [...] 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
- Rude, surly, ungracious. [from late 14th c.]
- Stingy or grudging.
- (of soil) 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.
- 1730–1774, Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland
Synonyms
- (of or pertaining to a serf): rustic
- (rude or surly): cross-grained, rude, surly, ungracious
- (stingy or grudging): grudging, illiberal, miserly, niggardly, stingy
Related terms
- churl
- churldom
- churled
- churlhood
- churlishly
- churlishness
Translations
of or pertaining to a serf
rude or surly
stingy or grudging
(of soil) difficult to till, lacking pliancy; unmanageable
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