ords
in other Teutonic languages), one of the two main classes, _eorl_ and
_ceorl_, into which in early Anglo-Saxon society the freemen appear to
have been divided. In the course of time the status of the ceorl was
probably reduced; but although his political power was never large, and
in some directions his freedom was restricted, it hardly seems possible
previous to the Norman Conquest to class him among the unfree. Some
authorities, however, accept this view. At all events it is certain that
the ceorl was frequently a holder of land, and a person of some
position, and that he could attain the rank of a thegn. Except in Kent
his wergild was fixed at two hundred shillings, or one-sixth of that of
a thegn, and he is undoubtedly the _twyhynde_ man of Anglo-Saxon law. In
Kent his wergild was considerably higher, and his status probably also,
but his position in this kingdom is a matter of controversy. After the
Norman Conquest the ceorls were reduced to a condition of servitude, and
the word translates the _villanus_ of Domesday Book, although it also
covers classes other than the _villani_. The form _ceorl_ soon became
_cherl_, as in _Havelok the Dane_ (ante 1300) and several times in
Chaucer. and subsequently _churl_. Taking a less technical sense than
the ceorl of Anglo-Saxon law, churl, or cherl was used in general to
mean a "man," and more particularly a "husband." In this sense it was
employed about 1000 in a translation of the New Testament to render the
word [Greek:_aner_] (John iv. 16, 18). It was then employed to describe
a "peasant," and gradually began to denote undesirable qualities. Hence
comes the modern use of the word for a low-born or vulgar person,
particularly one with an unpleasant, surly or miserly character.

See H.M. Chadwick, _Studies on Anglo-Saxon Institutions_ (Cambridge,
1905); F. Seebohm, _Tribal Custom in Anglo-Saxon Law_ (London, 1902).

CHURN (O. Eng. _cyrin_; found in various forms in most Teutonic
languages, cf. Dutch _karn_; according to the _New English Dictionary_
not connected with "quern," a mill), a vessel in which butter is made,
by shaking or beating the cream so as to separate the fatty particles
which form the butter from the serous parts or buttermilk. Early churns
were upright, and in shape resembled the cans now used in the transport
of milk, to which the name "churn" is also given. The upright churn was
worked by hand by a wooden "plunger"; later came a box-shaped