'Pourlieu' definitions:
Definition of 'pourlieu'
From: 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