noun
Common
carl
kahl
Carl (noun) means an old-fashioned word for a rough or ill-mannered man; a churl. Example: “In the medieval tale, a drunken carl shoved past the travellers and demanded food.”
noun
1
An old-fashioned word for a rough or ill-mannered man; a churl.
"In the medieval tale, a drunken carl shoved past the travellers and demanded food."
"The poet scorned the village carl who never spoke a kind word to anyone."
"The old text describes the innkeeper as a surly carl."
name
1
A male given name, a variant of Charles.
"Carl studied engineering before switching to music."
How to use carl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly known today as a male given name; its older sense meant a coarse, common man.
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Word forms
- Plural
- carls
- Third person singular
- carls
- Past tense
- carled
Fill the gap
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In the medieval tale, a drunken _____ shoved past the travellers and demanded food.
Etymology
From Old Norse karl ("man, husband"), a doublet of the English word "churl."
Related words
Rhymes for carl
See all rhymes for carl →Frequently asked questions
What does “carl” mean?
The word “carl” means an old-fashioned word for a rough or ill-mannered man; a churl. In plain terms, mainly known today as a male given name; its older sense meant a coarse, common man.
How do you pronounce “carl”?
“Carl” is pronounced kahl (/kɑɹl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “carl” in a sentence?
Here is “carl” used in a sentence: “The old text describes the innkeeper as a surly carl.”
What part of speech is “carl”?
Depending on how it is used, “carl” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “carl” come from?
The word “carl” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse karl ("man, husband"), a doublet of the English word "churl.".
Is “carl” a common word?
“Carl” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “carl” have?
“Carl” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an old-fashioned word for a rough or ill-mannered man; a churl.
What is the difference between 'carl' and 'churl'?
Both are old words for a low-born, rough, or ill-mannered man, and 'carl' is essentially a variant of 'churl.' 'Churl' is the more familiar spelling today, while 'carl' is now rare and mostly archaic or dialectal.
Is 'carl' the same as the name Carl?
They share a spelling but differ in use. As a common noun, 'carl' is an old-fashioned word for a rough man; as a proper noun, Carl is a male given name and a variant of Charles.
What is the difference between the names Carl, Karl, and Charles?
Carl and Karl are closely related forms of the same name, with 'Karl' more common in German and Scandinavian usage and 'Carl' common in English. Both are variants of Charles.
Should 'carl' meaning a rough man be capitalised?
No. The old word for a rough or ill-mannered man is a common noun and written in lowercase, as in 'a surly carl.' The given name Carl is a proper noun and always capitalised.
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