carl

¹

Or carle

[kahrl]

noun

1. Scot.

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

   2. a miser; an extremely thrifty person.

2. Archaic.,  a churl.

3. Obsolete.,  a bondman.

Carl

²

[kahrl]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Charles.

carl

/ kɑːl /

noun

1. archaic,  another word for churl

Other Word Forms

• carlish adjective
• carlishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carl¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of carl¹

Old English, from Old Norse karl

Example Sentences

While Felt never got the top job, he is now remembered as the prized anonymous source “Deep Throat,” who helped Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in their Pulitzer Prize-winning Watergate investigation.

From Salon

“That’s exactly the model that they’re following,” said Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.

From Los Angeles Times

The postponement caps a difficult year for Parton, who in March lost her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean.

From Salon

Earlier this year, she lost her beloved husband Carl after more nearly 60 years of marriage.

From BBC

Earlier this year, Parton’s husband Carl Dean died at 82.

From Los Angeles Times