churl的词源

英文词源

churl (n.)

Old English ceorl "peasant, freeman, man without rank," from Proto-Germanic *kerlaz, *karlaz (cognates: Old Frisian zerl "man, fellow," Middle Low German kerle, Dutch kerel "freeman of low degree," German Kerl "man, husband," Old Norse karl "old man, man").

It had various meaning in early Middle English, including "man of the common people," "a country man," "husbandman," "free peasant;" by 1300, it meant "bondman, villain," also "fellow of low birth or rude manners." For words for "common man" that acquire an insulting flavor over time, compare boor, villain. In this case, however, the same word also has come to mean "king" in many languages (such as Lithuanian karalius, Czech kral, Polish król) via Charlemagne.

中文词源

churl：粗鲁的人，村夫，农夫

来自PIE*ger，长大，成熟，词源同Charles, gerontology。其原词义为普通人，农人，自由民等，后词义不断恶化。比较villain来自village.

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：churl 词源，churl 含义。

churl：吝啬鬼；乡下人；粗暴的人；（中世纪的）农民

这是英国中世纪自有田地的农民阶层，处于奴隶和骑士之间。很多农民不堪政府的重税（用来安抚入侵的维京人），自愿卖身为奴，换取领主的保护，而对他们的歧视更产生了这个单词：churlish ['tʃɜːlɪʃ] adj.没有礼貌的；脾气暴躁的。

欧洲其他日耳曼语言国家对农民的称呼类似，只不过因音变等稍有区别。德国的Karl卡尔，法国的Charles查尔斯，拉丁里的Carlos卡洛斯等都同源，本意是（农民这样的）普通人。神圣罗马帝国皇帝Charlemagne查理曼，高大上吧，深究起来就是“大卡尔”。magne表great，如magnify ['mægnɪfaɪ] v.放大；赞美。