carline

or car·lin

[ kahr-lin, ker- ]

/ ˈkɑr lɪn, ˈkɛr- /

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noun Chiefly Scot.

an old woman.

a hag; witch.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of carline

1350–1400; Middle English (north) kerling<Old Norse: old woman, equivalent to kerl (mutated variant of karl man) + -ing-ing¹

Words nearby carline

carl, Carla, Carleen, Carleton, carlin, carline, carling, Carlisle, Carlist, Carlita, carload

Other definitions for carline (2 of 2)

car line

noun

trolley line.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use carline in a sentence

Now the carline bade us get ashore, and we did so, and found the land wondrous fair, little as that solaced us then.
The Water of the Wondrous Isles|William Morris
There was a carline at Bergthorsknoll, whose name was Saevuna.
The story of Burnt Njal|Anonymous
Then the carline rose, and her eyes were strange, as if they saw beyond that upon which she looked.
The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow|Allen French
They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely ane, Whan word came to the carline wife That her three sons were gane.
A Book of Ballads, Volume 4|Various

She's a fine fusher, Leddy Carline: faith, she may weel be, for I taucht her mysel'.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places|Archibald Forbes

British Dictionary definitions for carline (1 of 2)

carline¹

/ (ˈkɑːlɪn) /

noun

a Eurasian thistle-like plant, Carlina vulgaris, having spiny leaves and flower heads surrounded by raylike whitish bracts: family Asteraceae (composites)Also called: carline thistle

Word Origin for carline

C16: from French, probably from Latin cardō thistle

British Dictionary definitions for carline (2 of 2)

carline²

carlin

/ (ˈkɑːlɪn) /

noun

mainly Scot an old woman, hag, or witch

a variant of carling

Word Origin for carline

C14: from Old Norse kerling old woman, diminutive of karl man, churl

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