churl
/tʃɜrl/
noun
- A rude, ill-mannered, or unfriendly person.
- The old man was known as a churl who never smiled or spoke kindly.
- Only a churl would refuse to share food with a hungry neighbor.
- Don't be such a churl — at least say thank you when someone helps you.
- In medieval times, a person of low social rank, especially a peasant or serf.
- A churl could not leave the village without the lord's permission.
- In feudal England, a churl worked the land and had few rights.
- The lord treated every churl on his estate with harshness.