'churlish' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'ċeorl' (later 'churl'), where 'ċeorl' meant 'free peasant, man' and the suffix '-ish' meant 'of or pertaining to'.

'churlish' changed from the Middle English use of 'churl' + '-ish' (meaning 'of a churl' or 'like a churl') and eventually became the modern English adjective 'churlish' with senses of rudeness and surliness.

Initially, it meant 'of or like a peasant; rustic or of the common man,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'rude, ill-mannered, and surly.'