ceorl
ceorl n. (1)刻尔 盎格鲁-撒克逊时期基层社会自由的小自耕农，以户为单位拥有宅地及耕地，自给自足，并有权出席法庭、参加诉讼。对国家有一定义务，包括徭役、兵役等，对教会也有交税义务。后「刻尔」阶层产生分化，相当数量的「刻尔」虽有人身自由，但失去土地，流落他郡；或依附于领主而租种土地、受雇管理家务等。此后更沦为农奴。 (2)粗野之人，卑贱之人
CEORL
ceorl
ceorl (chorl). Hist. A Saxon freeman who either possessed no landed property or held land of a thane by paying rent or providing services. • After the Norman Conquest, ceorls were reduced to the status of unfree villeins. Under Norman rule, the variant form of the word, churl, became associated with a base peasant, and