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): /ˈtʃɝːlɪʃ/

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)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.

2. Rude, surly, ungracious. [from late 14th c.]
3. Stingy or grudging.
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.

• (of or pertaining to a serf): rustic
• (rude or surly): cross-grained, rude, surly, ungracious
• (stingy or grudging): grudging, illiberal, miserly, niggardly, stingy

• churl
• churldom
• churled
• churlhood
• churlishly
• churlishness