lurcher

[ lur-cher ]

/ ˈlɜr tʃər /

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noun

a crossbred dog used especially by poachers.

Archaic. a person who lurks or prowls, as a thief or poacher.

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Origin of lurcher

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at lurch³, -er¹

Words nearby lurcher

LUQ, lur, Luray, Lurçat, lurch, lurcher, lurdan, lure, Lurex, lurgy, Luria

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use lurcher in a sentence

"There's Rundle with that horrible lurcher dog of his," said Johnny, and spoke more to make conversation than anything else.
The Imaginary Marriage|Henry St. John Cooper
On the bank beside the road a man sat, and he was nursing an ugly yellow lurcher dog in his arms.
The Imaginary Marriage|Henry St. John Cooper
A moment later, a great lurcher came bounding over the field.
Creatures of the Night|Alfred W. Rees
The crofter who owned the lurcher dog lived a couple of miles off, so it was time for us to be on foot.
The Mystery of Cloomber|Arthur Conan Doyle

To help him Jem Burton had lent the services of his herring-gutted, herring-hearted, greyhound lurcher, Monkey.
Bob, Son of Battle|Alfred Ollivant

British Dictionary definitions for lurcher

lurcher

/ (ˈlɜːtʃə) /

noun

a crossbred hunting dog, usually a greyhound cross with a collie, esp one trained to hunt silently

archaic a person who prowls or lurks

Word Origin for lurcher

C16: from lurch ³

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012