churlish
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈtʃɜːlɪʃ/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈtʃɝːlɪʃ/
Adjective

churlish

  1. Of or pertaining to a serf, peasant, or rustic.
    • 1996, Jeet Heer, Gravitas, Autumn 1996
      [...] the eloquence and truth of his tribute stands in marked contrast to Kramer's churlish caricature of Kael as a happy pig wallowing in the dirt.
    Synonyms: rustic
  2. Rude, surly, ungracious. [from late 14th c.]
    Synonyms: cross-grained, rude, surly, ungracious
    • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Tvvoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: Printed [by Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], OCLC 932932554 ↗, folio 11, recto ↗:
      [A]nd it is without all controuerſie, that learning doth make the minds of men gentle, generous, maniable, and pliant to gouernment; whereas Ignorance makes them churlish[,] thwart, and mutinous; [...]
  3. Stingy or grudging.
    Synonyms: grudging, illiberal, miserly, niggardly, stingy
  4. (of soil) Difficult to till, lacking pliancy; unmanageable.
    • 1730–1774, Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland
      Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread,
      And force a churlish soil for scanty bread.
Related terms

Translations Translations Translations Translations
  • Russian: труднообрабатываемый



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