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purlieu Definition

pur·lieu (pʉrl′yo̵̅o̅′, pʉr′lo̵̅o̅′)

noun

  1. Historical an outlying part of a forest, exempted from forest laws and returned to private owners
  2. a place that one visits often or habitually; haunt
    1. bounds; limits
    2. environs
  4. an outlying part, as of a city

Etymology: altered (infl. by Fr lieu, place) < Anglo-Fr puralee < OFr puralée < puraler, to go through < pur-, por- (< L pro-, for, but used for per-, through) + aler, to go: see alley

purlieu Synonyms

purlieu

n.

  1. Border

    fringe, outskirts, periphery; see boundary, edge 1.

  2. Environment

    vicinity, locale, district; see area 2, neighborhood.