carl

noun

ˈkär(-ə)l 

variants or carle

1

: a man of the common people

2

chiefly dialectal : churl, boor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Old Norse karl "man, commoner" — more at churl

Note: Old Norse karl is already reflected in the late Old English compounds hūscarl "member of a king's bodyguard" (Old Norse húskarl), carlmann "male, man" (Old Norse karlmaðr).

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1