-lish, -lēsh adjective
Etymology: Middle English churlish, cherlish, from Old English ceorlisc, cierlisc, from ceorl + -isc -ish
1. : of or like a churl : having the position or rank of a churl : rustic , vulgar , mean
2. : characteristic of or befitting a churl : base , rude , ill-bred : lacking refinement or higher feelings
3. : difficult to work with or deal with : unmanageable , unyielding , intractable
churlish soil
churlish intractable minerals
• churl·ish·ly adverb
• churl·ish·ness noun -es