lurch 1
— lurchingly , adv.
/lerrch/ , n.
1. an act or instance of swaying abruptly.
2. a sudden tip or roll to one side, as of a ship or a staggering person.
3. an awkward, swaying or staggering motion or gait.
v.i.
4. (of a ship) to roll or pitch suddenly.
5. to make a lurch; move with lurches; stagger: The wounded man lurched across the room.
[ 1760-70; orig. uncert. ]
Syn. 5. lunge, reel, totter.
lurch 2
/lerrch/ , n.
1. a situation at the close of various games in which the loser scores nothing or is far behind the opponent.
2. leave in the lurch , to leave in an uncomfortable or desperate situation; desert in time of trouble: Our best salesperson left us in the lurch at the peak of the busy season.
[ 1525-35; lourche a game, n. use of lourche (adj.) discomfited lurz left (hand), OE belyrtan to deceive ]
lurch 3
/lerrch/ , v.t.
1. Archaic. to do out of; defraud; cheat.
2. Obs. to acquire through underhanded means; steal; filch.
v.i.
3. Brit. Dial. to lurk near a place; prowl.
n.
4. Archaic. the act of lurking or state of watchfulness.
[ 1375-1425; late ME lorchen, appar. var. of lurken to LURK ]