Legal Definitions - cirliscus

Definition: Cirliscus (pronounced sər-lis-kəs) is a term used in history to refer to a Saxon freeman who did not own any land or held land by paying rent or providing services to a thane. After the Norman Conquest, cirliscus were reduced to the status of unfree villeins. The term churl, which is a variant form of cirliscus, became associated with a base peasant under Norman rule and soon acquired the connotation of a surly, coarse person.

Example: In medieval England, a cirliscus was a freeman who did not own any land and had to work for a thane to earn a living.

Explanation: The example illustrates how cirliscus were dependent on thanes for their livelihood and did not have the same social status as those who owned land. They were considered lower in the social hierarchy and were eventually reduced to the status of unfree villeins after the Norman Conquest.