'Purlieu' definitions:
Definition of 'purlieu'
From: WordNet
noun
An outer adjacent area of any place [syn: environs, purlieu]
Definition of 'Purlieu'
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
Synonyms of 'purlieu'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- agora,
- amphitheater,
- arena,
- athletic field,
- auditorium,
- background,
- baths,
- bear garden,
- boundary,
- bounds,
- bowl,
- boxing ring,
- bull ring,
- campus,
- canvas,
- casino,
- circus,
- club,
- clubhouse,
- cockpit,
- coliseum,
- colosseum,
- compass,
- confines,
- course,
- field,
- floor,
- forum,
- gambling house,
- gathering place,
- ground,
- gym,
- gymnasium,
- hall,
- hangout,
- haunt,
- health resort,
- hippodrome,
- limits,
- lists,
- locale,
- marketplace,
- mat,
- meeting place,
- milieu,
- open forum,
- outskirts,
- palaestra,
- parade ground,
- pit,
- place,
- platform,
- precinct,
- precincts,
- prize ring,
- public square,
- rallying point,
- range,
- rendezvous,
- resort,
- ring,
- scene,
- scene of action,
- scenery,
- setting,
- site,
- spa,
- sphere,
- springs,
- squared circle,
- stadium,
- stage,
- stage set,
- stage setting,
- stamping ground,
- suburbs,
- terrain,
- theater,
- tilting ground,
- tiltyard,
- walk,
- watering place,
- wrestling ring