purlieu

noun /ˈpɜːljuː/

1. The ground on the edges of a forest, especially when partly subject to the same forest laws concerning game hunting etc.

   historical

2. The outskirts of any place; an adjacent district; the environs or neighborhood; milieu.

   Whether Lady Anne knew or suspected who it was that drew his steps from the purlieus of fashion he knew not, nor held himself bound to explain.

Where it comes from

From Middle English purlewe (“piece of land on the edge of a forest”), modification under the influence of Old French lieu (“place”) of porale, purale (“royal perambulation”), from Old French porale, from poraler (“to traverse”), from por- (“forth”) (from Latin prō-) + aler, aller (“to go”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry purlieu (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← purlicuepurlin →

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