churl

Churl is a noun that historically referred to a peasant or rustic in medieval and early English society, and in modern usage denotes a rude, ill-mannered person. As an adjective, churlish describes behavior that is surly, mean-spirited, or boorish.

Etymology and history: The term derives from Old English ceorl, meaning a freeman of relatively low status. In Old English and Middle English the word took the form churl and acquired pejorative connotations. By the 14th and 15th centuries it was commonly used to describe someone lacking courtesy or civility. In contemporary English the sense is largely archaic or literary, used to evoke historical or ironic tone rather than everyday speech.

Modern usage: In modern prose, churls are described as acting in a churlish way—refusing to help, speaking rudely, or displaying petty selfishness. The noun can appear in quotations from older texts or in humorous or archaising contexts. Churlishness denotes the quality of such behavior and is the corresponding abstract noun.

Related terms and nuance: Churl remains more old-fashioned or literary than common in everyday speech. Related terms include boor and lout, which capture similar ideas of crudeness or discourtesy but vary in nuance and register.