lurch
1
[ lurch ]
/ lɜrtʃ /
noun
an act or instance of swaying abruptly.
a sudden tip or roll to one side, as of a ship or a staggering person.
an awkward, swaying or staggering motion or gait.
verb (used without object)
(of a ship) to roll or pitch suddenly.
to make a lurch; move with lurches; stagger: The wounded man lurched across the room.
Origin of lurch
1
First recorded in 1760–70; origin uncertain
OTHER WORDS FROM lurch
lurch·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby lurch
Definition for lurching (2 of 2)
lurch
3
[ lurch ]
/ lɜrtʃ /
verb (used with object)
Archaic.
to do out of; defraud; cheat.
Obsolete.
to acquire through underhanded means; steal; filch.
verb (used without object)
British Dialect.
to lurk near a place; prowl.
noun
Archaic.
the act of lurking or state of watchfulness.
Origin of lurch
3Example sentences from the Web for lurching
British Dictionary definitions for lurching (1 of 3)
lurch
1
/ (lɜːtʃ) /
verb (intr)
to lean or pitch suddenly to one side
to stagger or sway
noun
the act or an instance of lurching
Derived forms of lurch
lurching, adjectiveWord Origin for lurch
C19: origin unknown
British Dictionary definitions for lurching (2 of 3)
lurch
2
/ (lɜːtʃ) /
noun
leave someone in the lurch
to desert someone in trouble
cribbage
the state of a losing player with less than 30 points at the end of a game (esp in the phrase in the lurch)
Word Origin for lurch
C16: from French
lourche a game similar to backgammon, apparently from
lourche (adj) deceived, probably of Germanic origin
British Dictionary definitions for lurching (3 of 3)
lurch
3
/ (lɜːtʃ) /
verb
(intr) archaic, or dialect
to prowl or steal about suspiciously
Word Origin for lurch
C15: perhaps a variant of
lurk
Idioms and Phrases with lurching
lurch
see leave in the lurch.