a. Forms: 1 ceorl-, ciorl-, cierl-, cyrl-, cirlisc, 4 cherlyssh(e, -isch, -iche, -ish, churlische, (cheerlissch), 5 cherlyche, -ysche, cherlliche, chorlissh, -ysshe, 5–6 churlisshe, -ysshe, 6 chorlyshe, -ish, 6– churlish. [OE. cierlisc, or (without umlaut) ceorlisc, f. ceorl CHURL + -isc, -ISH. Cf. CARLISH.]
† 1. Of or relating to a churl; of the rank or position of a churl; pertaining to churls, rustic, common, vulgar, mean. Obs. (or arch.)
a. 1000. Laws Ine, 13, in Thorpe, I. 114 (Bosw.). Gif cierlisc [ciorlisc MS. H, cyrlisc B] mon betyʓen wære.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 153/33. Cibarius, ceorlisc hlaf.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 893. Sæton feawa cirlisce men.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Chron. xxvii. 26. To the churlische werk … and to the erthe tilieris, that wrouȝten the erth.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s Prol., 61. But tolde his cherlisch tale in his manere.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 72. Cherlyche or charlysche, rusticalis.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. App. 727. Tradition asserts Godwine to have been a man of churlish birth.
b. Applied to churl’s mustard: see CHURL 7 b.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, I. xx. § 7. 210. The seeds of these churlish kindes of treacle mustarde.
2. Intentionally boorish or rude in behavior; hard, harsh, ‘brutal,’ surly, ungracious.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 787. Fro his lust yet were hym leuere abyde Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh [v.r. cherlyssh, cherliche, cherles, cheerlissch] wrecchednesse.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 1078. So churlysshe of maners in feld ne hale Ne know I none.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 488. The dolphyn stepte forthe … and said to the kynge: Thou foule olde churlysshe vilaine!
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. iv. 98. The Retort courteous … the Quip-modest … the reply Churlish.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxv. 3. The man was churlish and euill in his doings [Coverd., harde, and wicked in his doynges.]
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 13. That which troubleth me most is my churlish carriages to him when he was under his distress.
1701. De Foe, True-born Eng., Pref. It cannot be denied but we are in many Cases, and particularly to Strangers, the churlishest People alive.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, xxv. 520. We found the people more churlish than usual.
b. transf. Of beasts, natural forces and agents: Violent, rough, etc. (Now only fig.)
1477. Paston Lett., 794, III. 186. So that he be not chorlissh at a spore, as plungyng.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 7. The Icie phange And churlish chiding of the winters winde.
1633. P. Fletcher, Pisc. Ecl., II. xiii. From thence he furrow’d many a churlish sea.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., xxvi. 318. It is a strong and chirlish vomit.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. v. 689. Rude and churlish Blasts of wind.
1754. Huxham, in Phil. Trans., XLVIII. 857. It always proved a very churlish medicine. [Cf. CHURLOUS.]
3. Sordid, niggardly, stingy, grudging.
[See note to CHURL sb. 6.]
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. 99. As he liued a beastly and chorlish life euen so he required to haue his funerall done after that manner.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. iv. 80. My master is of churlish disposition, And little wreakes to finde the way to heauen By doing deeds of hospitalitie.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War, 191. Nor was I ever so churlish as to keep the commendations of them from others.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxxv. Thy churlish courtesy … Reserve.
1866. Mrs. H. Wood, St. Martin’s Eve, ii. (1874), 12. He could not offer a churlish roof to his visitors.
4. Of soil: Unkindly, stiff, hard, and difficult to work, ill repaying the husbandman’s toil. Formerly also of metal: Difficult to work, intractable. Also transf. of difficulties, obstacles, etc. (Now fig.)
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 22. In Sommer the ground is to hard and churlishe.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. i. 16. Will you againe unknit This churlish knot of all-abhorred Warre.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 326. If there be Emission of spirit, the body of the Metal will be hard and Churlish.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. xii. 250. In assigning the west border of this Tribe, we meet with a churlish difficulty in the text. Ibid. (1662), Worthies (1840), I. 365. It is not churlish but good-natured metal.
a. 1722. Lisle, Husb. (1752), 3. Harsh, churlish, obstinate clay.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 168. Where the black Swiss … force a churlish soil for scanty bread.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xli. A churlish strong-box or a prison-door.
5. Comb., as churlish-throated.
a. 1631. Drayton, Wks., III. 918 (Jodd.). The churlish-throated hounds then holding him at bay.
