Where does “cherl” come from?
cherl (Middle English) comes from Old English ċeorl, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.
Ancestry of “cherl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | ċeorl | peasant; a freeman of the lowest class, a churl,... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | karilaz | free man, franklin; little man, young man |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | karaz | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵerh₂- | to grow old, to mature |
Words derived from “cherl”