carl

or carle

[ kahrl ]

/ kɑrl /

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noun

Scot.

a strong, robust fellow, especially a strong manual laborer.
a miser; an extremely thrifty person.

Archaic. a churl.

Obsolete. a bondman.

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Origin of carl

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, adjectivecarl·ish·ness, noun

Other definitions for carl (2 of 2)

Carl

[ kahrl ]

/ kɑrl /

noun

a male given name, form of Charles.

How to use carl in a sentence

“The whole ticking-time-bomb thesis is … so cockamamie,” said Carle.
Human Rights Watch: Prosecute Bush, Cheney Over Torture Crimes|R.M. Schneiderman|July 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
“Prosecutions will divide us and not make these excesses less likely,” said Carle.
Human Rights Watch: Prosecute Bush, Cheney Over Torture Crimes|R.M. Schneiderman|July 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
These claims are absolutely false, according to former interrogators such as Carle and Kleinman.
Human Rights Watch: Prosecute Bush, Cheney Over Torture Crimes|R.M. Schneiderman|July 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Still, you were then but the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up to the daughter of the ealdorman.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler

Then the carle said, “Another cup for the longer after youth!”
The Story of the Glittering Plain|William Morris
Then arose a white-headed carle from a table nigh to the dais, whose black raiment was well adorned with gold.
The Story of the Glittering Plain|William Morris
Alas that thou shouldst talk so,” said a carle, rising up from the warm sand; “what shall all thy toil win thee?
The Story of the Glittering Plain|William Morris
Mr. Carle, dancing master, may be spoke with on school days at Mrs. White's Tavern.
A Portrait of Old George Town|Grace Dunlop Ecker

British Dictionary definitions for carl

carl

carle

/ (kɑːl) /

noun

archaic another word for churl

Word Origin for carl

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