from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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