CEORL Meaning and
Definition
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Ceorl, derived from the Old English word "ceorl," refers to a social class or rank within the medieval English society. In Anglo-Saxon England, ceorls were free peasant farmers who held a status slightly above the lowest social class, the unfree serfs.
The term can also be used to describe an ordinary freeman who was not a noble or clergy member. Typically owning a small piece of land, a ceorl was responsible for cultivating and tending to their crops and livestock to sustain their livelihood. They were expected to contribute to their community, paying taxes or rents to their lord and participating in local assemblies or courts. While still bound by certain obligations and duties, ceorls enjoyed more freedom and rights compared to serfs or slaves.
The ceorl class played a crucial role in the Anglo-Saxon society as they formed the backbone of agricultural production and were essential for the economic prosperity of the kingdom. Over time, as societal structures evolved and feudalism became more prominent, the status of ceorls became less distinct and gradually merged with the emerging class of the lesser gentry.
Today, the term ceorl is primarily used in historical and academic contexts to describe the common freeholders of Anglo-Saxon England, who held an intermediate status between nobility and serfs.
Common Misspellings for CEORL
- cearl
- corl
- cerol
- cerl
- chorl
- ciol
- ceoul
- ceril
- xeorl
- veorl
- feorl
- deorl
- cworl
- csorl
- cdorl
- crorl
- c4orl
- c3orl
- ceirl
- cekrl
Etymology of CEORL
The word "ceorl" has Old English origins. It is derived from the West Germanic word "kerlaz", which had a broader meaning of "man, husband, or freeman". In Old English, "ceorl" specifically referred to a freeman of the lowest social rank who owned and cultivated land. Over time, the word's meaning evolved, and by the Middle English period, it was used to denote a common man or a husbandman.
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