cullion

[kuhl-yuhn]

noun

Archaic.

1. a base or vile fellow.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cullion¹

1350–1400; Middle English culyon, coil ( i ) on < Anglo-French, Middle French coillon worthless fellow, literally, testicle < Vulgar Latin *cōleōnem, accusative of *cōleō, for Latin cōleī (plural) testicles, scrotum

Example Sentences

Cullion, kul′yun, n. a wretch: a cowardly fellow.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

It was that crafty cullion Hodge, my Gammer Gurton's man.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you see nothing? clodpatel Huguenot! varlet! cullion!

From Project Gutenberg

Coglione, a cullion, a fool, a scoundrel, properly a dupe.

From Project Gutenberg

"The house of Ravenswood was ance a gude and an honourable house in this land," said an old man; "but it's lost its credit this day, and the Master has shown himself no better than a greedy cullion."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rascal