Middle English Dictionary Entry
carl n.
Entry Info
| Forms | carl n. Also carile. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI karl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. cherl.
1.
(a) A man (usually of low estate); often patronizingly or contemptuously: fellow; (b) a contemptuous term of address: fellow, knave, rascal; (c) as term of association: cloddre (cluster) of carles, a group of male persons; (d) ~ man, a man [cp. OI karlmaðr]; also, as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.545 : The Miller was a stout carl for the nones.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3469 : His knaue was a strong carl [vrr. karle, chorle, knave].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1568 : The carl spak o thyng, but he thoghte another.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1736 : Qui es þis carl [Trin-C: cherle] sua ferd?
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)208 : He unkyndely as a karle kydde a reward.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)559 : Þe forest fast þan wald he seke And als þe karl of Kaymes kyn.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)33 : A grete feleshyp of carles were ffor to bathe them in the watyr ffor the hete of the sone.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)914 : Schal neuer þe tale rise Of no karl by þe coppe, how he his kyng quelde.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)133 : Alle these were dronch..non saved save a boistoys carl that was among hem.
- (1476) Paston (Gairdner)5.258 : Men tolde hym that they weer ffrowarde karlys, butte he wolde nott beleve it.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)179/3 : Thes carle was stronge in armes.
b
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1789 : We shole at þis dore gonge Maugre þin, carl, or outh longe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.717 : What, carl [vr. thow chorll], with sory grace!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13808 : Þou carl [Trin-C: churle], qui brekes þou vr lau?
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)876 : An outcomlyng, a carle, we kylle of þyn heved!
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1063 : Here es cury vnclene, carle, be my trowthe.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)1087 : Thou carle monke, wyth all þy gynne..Hur sorowe schalt thou not cees.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)204/1 : Peas, carles, I commaunde. Vnconand I call you.
c
- 1448 in Hodgkin Proper Terms134 : A Clowder of Karlys.
- a1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms134 : A clowdyr of carlys.
- a1500 in Hodgkin Proper Terms134 : A Clowder of Karles.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A Cluster of carles.
d
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Þa namen hi þa men þe hi wenden ðat nai god hefden..carlmen & wimmen, & diden heom in prisun efter gold and syluer.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2577 : Robertus Karleman.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2579 : Robertus Carleman.
2.
(a) A serf, servant, slave; also, a freedman [last quot.]; (b) a peasant, a rustic.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29444 : Þe toþer es woman, carl o feild.
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)313 : If þou haue carlis boȝt to serue þe.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)29443 : In feld or toun, With þi carl may þou comoun.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)62 : Carle, or chorle, bondeman or woman: Servus nativus, serva nativa.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)79/192 : We are harde halden here Als carls vndir þe king.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)226/29 : He..is more thralle than a carle [DSPhilos.: esclave].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)70/205 : Full hard halden ar we here, as carls vnder the kyng.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)697/27 : Hic colibertus: a carle.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)62 : Carle, or chorle: Rusticus.
- c1475 Little Child.Bk.(1) (Eg 1995)34 : Karlys [Hrl: men wolle sey þou come of cherlis].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)21b : A Caryle vbi chorle [Monson: a Carle: rusticus].
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)261 : Gawein hadde wele herde..the wordes that the karll hadde seide..And the carll leide to the deef ere and smote his staff on the grounde.
3.
As surname; for place names, see Smith PNElem. 2.2
Associated quotations
- (1202) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms51 : Rob. le Karl.
- (1276) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms51 : Henr. le Karle.
- (1279) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms51 : Ida Carle.
- (1287) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.57 : Thomas Carl.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1026 : Robertus Carle.
- (1302) Feudal Aids 3427 : Robertus Carle.
- a1385(1374) Cust.Chichester in Sus.RS 31116 : Alice Carl.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)278 : Lett be þi knellynge, gentyll knyȝt, Thow logost wytt a carll to-nyȝt; For her no corttessy þou schalt have But carllus corttessy, so God me save.
Note: New form: Pl. carllus.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)140 : I knowe..A carle her in a castell.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 1.(a).
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)142 : The Karl of Carllyll ys his nam.
Note: New sense: In epithet.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL