lurcher
Americannoun
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a crossbred dog used especially by poachers.
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Archaic. a person who lurks or prowls, as a thief or poacher.
noun
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a crossbred hunting dog, usually a greyhound cross with a collie, esp one trained to hunt silently
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archaic a person who prowls or lurks
Etymology
Origin of lurcher
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at 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.
"But they did bring their lurcher, who was as good as gold."
From BBC • Aug. 31, 2025
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
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
There's a chihuahua scowling in a cape, a golden retriever Fenton-ing after a luckless terrier and a lurcher that looks like a retired academic.
From The Guardian • Oct. 12, 2012
Warmth slimed my palm and a fangy lurcher looked back up.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
