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lurcher

American  
[lur-cher] / ˈlɜr tʃər /

noun

  1. a crossbred dog used especially by poachers.

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


lurcher British  
/ ˈlɜːtʃə /

noun

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

  2. archaic a person who prowls or lurks

"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

Etymology

Origin of lurcher

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; lurch 3, -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jake, a lurcher, first arrived at Dogs Trust Leeds aged one in 2015.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2024

That morning, my boyfriend and I drove to a place near the M25 to meet the man with the lurcher.

From The Guardian • Dec. 1, 2019

After many failed attempts, we found a man who was getting rid of a lurcher.

From The Guardian • Dec. 1, 2019

Before members of the public begin gathering around him in a desperate attempt to save his life, Dennehy left the scene, taking Mr Rogers' lurcher dog with her.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2014

Warmth slimed my palm and a fangy lurcher looked back up.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell