carl

or carle

[ kahrl ]

noun
  1. Scot.

    • a strong, robust fellow, especially a strong manual laborer.

    • a miser; an extremely thrifty person.

  2. Archaic. a churl.

  1. Obsolete. a bondman.

Origin of carl

1
before 1000 (in compounds; see housecarl); Middle English; Old English -carl<Old Norse karl man; cognate with Old High German karl; akin to churl

Other words from carl

  • carlish, adjective
  • carl·ish·ness, noun

Words Nearby carl

Other definitions for Carl (2 of 2)

Carl
[ kahrl ]

noun
  1. a male given name, form of Charles.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use carl in a sentence

  • They had not met since the battle of Wilson Creek, when carl went back with a broken arm.

  • In the privacy of Lawrence's room, carl told his story—a story that Lawrence listened to breathless attention.

  • There was another silence, during which carl became absorbed in a book and Louise gave her attention to Helen's dolls.

    The Story of the Big Front Door | Mary Finley Leonard
  • "Miss Zélie herself sets more store by carl than any of the rest," said Mandy, coming to the door.

    The Story of the Big Front Door | Mary Finley Leonard
  • carl suddenly demanded, as they marched up the newly reddened walk.

    The Story of the Big Front Door | Mary Finley Leonard

British Dictionary definitions for carl

carl

carle

/ (kɑːl) /


noun
  1. archaic another word for churl

Origin of carl

1
Old English, from Old Norse karl

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012