courser

¹

[ kawr-ser, kohr- ]

noun

1. a person or thing that courses; hunter.
2. a dog for coursing.

courser

²

[ kawr-ser, kohr- ]

noun

, Literary.

1. a swift horse.

courser

³

[ kawr-ser, kohr- ]

noun

1. any of several swift-footed, ploverlike birds of the genera Cursorius and Pluvianus, chiefly of the desert regions of Asia and Africa.

courser

¹

/ ˈkɔːsə /

noun

1. a terrestrial plover-like shore bird, such as Cursorius cursor (cream-coloured courser), of the subfamily Cursoriinae of desert and semidesert regions of the Old World: family Glareolidae, order Charadriiformes

courser

²

/ ˈkɔːsə /

noun

1. a person who courses hounds or dogs, esp greyhounds
2. a hound or dog trained for coursing

courser

³

/ ˈkɔːsə /

noun

1. literary.
   a swift horse; steed

Word History and Origins

Origin of courser¹

First recorded in 1585–95; course + -er ¹

Origin of courser²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English courser, coursier, courcer, from Old French coursier, cursier, corsier, from unattested Vulgar Latin cursārius, equivalent to Latin curs(us) “running, race” + -ārius suffix forming adjectives and nouns; course, -ary; -er ²

Origin of courser³

First recorded in 1800–10; irregularly formed from New Latin cursōrius “fitted for running,” equivalent to Latin cur(rere) “to run” + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory ¹; course

Word History and Origins

Origin of courser¹

C18: from Latin cursōrius suited for running, from cursus course

Origin of courser²

C13: from Old French coursier, from cours course

Example Sentences

His coat-of-arms, that of the house of Friedwald, was richly emblazoned upon the housings of his courser.

From Project Gutenberg

Cherries should, of courser be seeded, or pitted, when they are prepared in this way.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he must run a race with a courser so fleet that he fairly spurns the ground under his flying footsteps.

From Project Gutenberg

If our borders are invaded, it is only as the spur that is driven into the courser's flank to rouse his slumbering mettle.

From Project Gutenberg

Gladly, said he, and they shook hands on it; a courser of Spain to an English hobby.

From Project Gutenberg