Middle English Dictionary Entry
chē̆rl n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chē̆rl n. Also cherel, cherril, cheril, cherol, cheorl, chorl, churl, chirl, charl. |
| Etymology | OE ceorl |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. carl.
1.
(a) Any person not belonging to the nobility or clergy, whether freeman or bondsman; (b) ?freeman; ~ of birthe; ~ of condicioun; (c) bondsman, serf, villein, peasant; servant; (d) fig. a slave (to sinful life).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4260 : Heo makeden ane sætnesse..ælc cheorl [Otho: man]..hæfde grið al swa þe king sulf.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)632 : Boþe chorles [vr. cheorles] an ek aþele.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)513 : Þouȝh he were komen of no ken, but of kende cherls.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.761 : Thynk eek that of swich seed as cherles spryngeth, of swich seed spryngen lordes.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10638 : Þe erl, Supposed weyl he was no cherl..By hys semblant and feyre beryng Hym semed weyl to be a lordyng.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)207/4 : He callede þe noble Erl and gentil, Thomas of Lancastre, Cherl.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1852 : Cherles..In euery lond shal lordis ben allone, When gentilmen slay[e]n bene echone.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)880 : He can cherles daunten..And he can wel these lordis thrallen.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)171/57 : I xall sle scharlys..with therlys.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)731 : Of cherles kynde was he noȝt, For hys gentryse.
- a1500 Little Child.Bk.(1) (Adv 19.3.1)34 : Pyke not þyne Eris ne thy nostrellis; If þou do, men wolle sey þou come of cherlis [vr. karlys].
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11205 : Ærst he sloh þæ eorles & þrallede þæ chærles.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12254 : Þa weoren in Æst Ængle æðele iborne cheorles [Otho: twei boldde cheorles], twene ibroðeren.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12346 : Þat cheorles..hefden al þis kine-lond iset in cheorlene hond.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30993 : Þer neoren eorles no wurðer þene cheorles.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)3302 : I hym made My chif Iustyce and eke an erle And he of birth but a cherle [vr. chorle].
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)23 : Cherl of condicioun and born of gentyll blood.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14788 : An nahht he toc þatt follc All samenn..were & wif, & cherl & child.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31811 : Þer cheorl draf his sulȝe, i-oxned swiðe fæire.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)22b : Þe þridde..seið to þe cniht þe robbeð his poure men..eauer me schal þene cheorl peolkin.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)80/88 : Þe cnith bi-ouit..forto weriin þe lon[d]..þat þe rich habbe gryt & þe cherril [vrr. cherl, cheorl] be in frit, hi[s] sedis to souin.
- a1300 Þar þe child is (Dgb 53)15 : Þar þe child is kinge, and þe cherl is alderman..wa þene lede!
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)620 : Louerd, we aren..Þine cherles, þine hine.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)684 : Go heþen, and be euere-more Þral and cherl als þou er wore.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)272 : Men cleopeden him [St. Francis] hoxtare, oþur cheorl, oþur cheorles sone.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4 : A wel old cherl, þat was a couherde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1675 : Noþer clerk nor kniȝt, nor of cuntre cherle.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2459 : Myn is..the cherles rebellyng..I [Saturn] do vengeance.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.139 : Þe lordes..to fiȝte wiþ hir owne bonde men..bere whippes in hir hondes, and so fered þe cherles [L servos] and droof hem away.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1374 : This cherles knape Hath lad this maiden..Upon the Stronde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)125b/a : Nouembre..is I peynt as a cherle [L rusticus]..fedinge his swyne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)235b/a : It is so y feyned of chorles oþer of wicches.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)2136 : Of sem freman, of Iaphet kniȝt, of cham chorle [Vsp: thrall] come ful riȝt.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.50 : For in charnel atte chirche cherles ben yuel to knowe, or a kniȝt fram a knaue.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.122 : May no cherle chartre make ne his catel selle With-outen leue of his lorde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.35 : The iuwes þat were gentil men..now ar þei lowe cherlis..And þo þat bicome crysten..Aren frankeleynes, fre men, þorw fullyng þat þei toke.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.145 : Þanne lowgh lyf..And helde holynesse a iape..And lete leute a cherle and lyer a fre man.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60a/a : Seruulus: a lytel cherle.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1970 : A gret noumbre of the comounte, Of cherlis..a confus multitude.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)72 : Cherelle, or charle: Rusticus, rusticanus.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)12/37 : A kyng owith not to..ouer oft haunte the company of his sugetis, and specially of chorlis and ruralle folke.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)32 : He was but of þe low degre..in her langage rusticus, in our a chorl..arayed lich a charl, ridyng witȝ oute a sadel.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)598 : A cherl of berthe hatith gentil blood.
d
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)76/4 : Paradys, huer no cherl ne ssel come in, ne uals ne þyef ne proud.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.763 : Euery synful man is a cherl to synne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.55 : He..rauysshed helle..And..ȝaf Adam and Eue..blisse, Þat longe hadde leyne bifore as lucyferes cherles.
- ?c1430 Wycl.Tract AMaria (Corp-C 296)205 : For þis cursed lif þei ben cherlis or bonde wymmen of synne.
2.
A person lacking in refinement, learning, or morals; boor, ignoramus; base fellow, churl, villain; -- frequent as a term of contempt or abuse.
Associated quotations
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)682 : Wiltu ben erl? Go hom swiþe, fule drit, cherl!
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2533 : Godrich..þat was erl, Þat fule traytour, that mixed cherl!
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2715 : A modi stiward he ðor fond, Betende a man..And hente ðe cherl wið hise wond.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3169 : This millere..tolde his cherles tale in his manere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3917 : Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2837 : He that..setteth at noght his goode name or loos..nys but a cruel cherl.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1252 : Thou lyest, false cherl!
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2206 : I seye a cherl hath doon a cherles dede.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1158 : He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl; For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)13808 : Þou churle [Vsp: carl], whi brekestou oure lawe?
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.294 : Þe prouest of þe toun, a wik traytour & cherle.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.33 : Loth..gat in glotonye gerlis that were cherlis [vr. karles; C: churles].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1583 : He corsed his clerkes and calde hem chorles.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2107 : Be hit chorle oþer chaplayn.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Corp-O 4)p.65 : Perauenture we seyn chirl Petre [WB(2): Petre to be lewide].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2002 : For sauff of cherlis I ne vouche..For curteis and of faire maner..He muste ben that shal me kysse.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2200 : A cherl is demed by his dede..Or of what kynrede that he bee.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)227/180 : Þou chateris like a churle þat can chyde.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)136 : The foule cherl that..Had hem betrayed with his sophistrye.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)129/6 : The churle can nat thanke the gefer.
- (c1465) Stonor1.68 : The parsons man..called diverse men knaves and harlettes and charles.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)24b : A churlle [Monson: Churle]: batiuus, calcitro, rusticus..gello, gillo, glebo.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)331 : Chorle..þou art to bold!
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)280 : A cherlis cherl ful oft is woo-bigoon.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)228/7 : Tho that haue..the tethe vp-rerid outward apperynge byth chorll..y-lykenyd to swyne.
3.
(a) A man, fellow, chap; gret ~, old ~; (b) a husband.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)34 : Ichot þe cherl is def; þe Del hym to-drawe!
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7226 : Þese were aschamed..Of þat þe cherl hem hadde seyd, For stoutelich he haþ hem chidde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1822 : Ȝif any weiȝh comes wending alone, oþer cherl oþer child, fro chepinge or feyre.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2207 : Wannes ert þow, olde cherld, & what makest þou in þis þede?
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.204 : Glotoun was a gret cherl.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.750 : Nay, olde cherl, thou shalt nat so.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.1024 : Thow hast a ful gret care Lest that the cherl may falle out of the moone..I hate of the thi nyce fare!
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)615 : Myghte no blonkes them bere, thos bustous churlles, Bot couerde camellez.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)276/143 : Yha, who chatteres, hym chastise, Be he churle or childe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)131/236 : With þis damysel whan he dede dawns, þe olde charle had ryght gret corage.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)221 : A frere..A greet cherl &..growen as a tonne.
b
- a1200(OE) Hat.Gosp.(Hat 38)John 4.17 : Þa hym answerede þus þæt wif..'nabbe ic nænne cheorl.' Þa cwæð se halend to hyre, 'wel þu cweðe þæt þu næst ceorl.'
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)34/560 : Hire cake bearnen o þe stan..& te cheorl chideð.
4.
Cpds. cherl-croft, tenants' field; ~ folk, the common people; ~ man, a freeman or bondsman; ~ sokne, tenants' district; -- for place names see Smith PNElem. 1.89.
Associated quotations
- [ 1103-20(OE) Inst.Cnuti in Liebermann Gesetze 1612 : Lahslit, quem Angli uocant ceorlman. ]
- (1148-54) Chart.in Capes Hereford Cath.12 : Croftam rustici, que Anglice dicitur Chorlecroft.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)538/30 : Uulgus: cheorlfolc.
- (1300) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.3116 : Inter comitatus Salop' & Stafford usque le Cherlesok'.
- (1322) Doc.Faversham in Archaeol.Cant.14195 : Thom. Cherlman.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)910/14 : Tame garleck..was nought wiþoute cause cleped tryacle of cherles.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)129/27 : Alium is an herbe þat men clepe garlek or cherlys tryacle.
Note: New combination and phrase for sense 4.: cherles triacle, triacle of cherles, a species of garlic (Allium sativum) used medicinally, specif. a medicinal substance consisting of or containing garlic, reputed to be an antidote to poisons, venemous bites, etc.
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)40 : Þe cherld nul nout adoun er þe day dawe.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 3.(a).
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(4) (Dgb 196)232 : A cluster of cherlez.
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A cluther off churlez.
Note: New forms: Pl. cherlez, churlez.
Note: Because it is not possible to determine the precise meaning of 'cherl' in these quots. (they could be placed in existing sense 1., 2., or 3.) it is perhaps better to place them in a separate sense entirely. Gloss: "In phrase cloddre (cluster) of cherles, a group (of churls)." (The words "cloddre" and "cluster" are terms of association, although "cherl" is not.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 *Medulla (Hrl 1738)66a/b : Rusticus: a charle.
Note: New form: Also..charle.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(c).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL