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lurch1 definition

lurch (lʉrc̸h)

intransitive verb

  1. to roll, pitch, or sway suddenly forward or to one side
  2. to stagger

Etymology: < ?

noun

a lurching movement; sudden rolling, pitching, etc.

Etymology: earlier lee-lurch < ?

lurch2 definition

lurch (lʉrc̸h)

intransitive verb

Obsolete to remain furtively near a place; lurk

Etymology: ME lorchen, var. of lurk

transitive verb

  1. Archaic to prevent (a person) from getting his fair share of something
  2. Obsolete to get by cheating, robbing, tricking, etc.

noun

Obsolete the act of lurching
lurch Idioms

lie at (or on) the lurch

Archaic to lie in wait
lurch3 definition

lurch (lʉrc̸h)

noun

Archaic a situation in certain card games, in which the winner has more than double the score of the loser

Etymology: Fr lourche, name of a 16th-c. game like backgammon, prob. < OFr, duped < MDu lurz, left (hand), hence unlucky, akin to MHG lërz, left, lürzen, to deceive

lurch Idioms

leave someone in the lurch

to leave someone in a difficult situation; leave someone in trouble and needing help

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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