Obs. A variant of CARL or CHURL. [ME. cherl might have a phonetic variant charl, as well as churl; cf. BERNE and its variants, etc.)
a. 1400. Cov. Myst. (1841), 139. The olde charle had ryght gret corage. Ibid., 181. I xal sle scharlys, And qwenys with therlys.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 72. Cherelle or charle [1499 Pynson churle or carle], rusticus. Ibid., 77. Choffe or chuffe, charle or chutt, rusticus.
