churlish

From Middle English churlysshe, cherlissh, from late Old English ċeorlisċ, ċierlisċ (“of or pertaining to churls”), equivalent to churl +‎ -ish.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtʃɜːlɪʃ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃɝːlɪʃ/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)lɪʃ

churlish (comparative more churlish, superlative most 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.

   Synonym: rustic

2. Rude, surly, ungracious. [from late 14th c.]

   Synonyms: cross-grained, rude, surly, ungracious

   • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, 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; […]

   • 2006 August 6, Jackson Publick, “Twenty Years to Midnight” (12:38 from the start), in The Venture Bros.‎^[1], season 2, episode 5, spoken by Professor Impossible (Stephen Colbert):

     “Please, can't you just leave the child with Huggie?” “Stop calling him "the child," Richard! His name is Rocket! And I'm not leaving him with your crappy robot!” “Sally! Why, that's almost churlish. And you're visible! What's this really about?” “You can't replace family with a robot, Richard. We need real human affection!” “That's why Huggie's programmed to simulate it, sweetness.” “[groans] Please, Richard, let me go.” “Yes, yes, perhaps the fresh air will, uh, calm the female --” “Don't strain yourself, Richard. Good bye.”

   • 2021 May 25, Linsey McGoey, “Why Billionaires Like Bill Gates Can’t Fix the Problems They Helped Create”, in The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:

     Especially in the post-2008 recession, the need for charity was more pronounced than ever, and so it seemed churlish, even Scrooge-like, to question whether the Gateses really knew as much about solving the world’s problems as they claimed.

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.