purlieu |ˈpərl(y)oō|noun ( pl. -lieus or -lieux |-l(y)oō(z)|)the area near or surrounding a place : the photogenicpurlieus of the Princeton.• figurative a person's usual haunts.• Brit., historical a tract on the border of a forest, esp. one earlier included in it and still partly subject to forest laws.ORIGIN late 15th cent. (denoting a tract on the borderof a forest): probably an alteration (suggested byFrench lieu ‘place’ ) of Anglo-Norman French puralee ‘a going around to settle the boundaries.’
Just think of purlieu as an alternative to 'hood. It's not hard to use in a conversation either. A gang of green parrots moved into my purlieu, making a squawking racket in the trees.
Hmm, I think I get this mixed up with purview.
ReplyDeleteAt least it's not purloin--lovely word, btw.
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