churl Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
    Goth; boor; tyke; barbarian; peasant; tike.
  2. noun a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend
    niggard; skinflint; scrooge.
  3. noun a bad-tempered person
    grouch; grump; crank; crosspatch.

WordNet

Churl noun
Etymology
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. jara lover. Cf. Carl, Charles's Wain.
Definitions
  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 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 adjective
Definitions
  1. Churlish; rough; selfish. Obs. Ford.

Webster 1913