Pourlieu

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pourlieu \Pour"lieu\, n.
     See {Purlieu}.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Purlieu \Pur"lieu\, n. [Corrupted (by influence of lieu place)
     fr. OF. pural['e]e, poral['e]e (equiv. to LL. perambulatio a
     survey of boundaries, originally, a going through); por (L.
     pro, confused, however, with L. per through) + al['e]e. See
     {Pro-}, and {Alley}.] [Written also {pourlieu}.]
     1. Originally, the ground near a royal forest, which, having
        been unlawfully added to the forest, was afterwards
        severed from it, and disafforested so as to remit to the
        former owners their rights.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
              In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence, the outer portion of any place; an adjacent
        district; environs; neighborhood. "The purlieus of St.
        James."
        [1913 Webster]
  
              brokers had been incessantly plying for custom in
              the purlieus of the court.            --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster] Purlin