lurcher

noun

lurch·​er ˈlər-chər How to pronounce lurcher (audio)
1
archaic : a petty thief : pilferer
2
British : a crossbred dog
especially : one that resembles a greyhound
3
archaic : one who lurks
also : spy

Examples of lurcher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The dog, which was a family pet and thought to be a lurcher cross, was then seized by police. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026 The nine-year-old black lurcher canine loves walks, cuddles, and attention. — People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 22 Nov. 2021 The mother, Sorrel, was a lurcher, who lay in a heap of straw in the corner of the barn. — Esther Freud, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2021 Lily, a lurcher abandoned and near death, had suffered from malnutrition and mange. — Connie Ogle, miamiherald, 17 Oct. 2017 There was a male cocker spaniel, female cockapoo, male lurcher type, also known as a crossbred hound, and a female terrier type. — Megan Marples, CNN, 28 Sep. 2022 It was meant to be his big day, but instead Flash the lurcher was left celebrating his ninth birthday in a shelter, after over 1,070 days waiting. — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025 Watching intently alongside me is a lurcher called Derek, and his owner, Ollie Birkbeck; green fedora jammed on tight, hands on the wheel of the Land Rover. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

lurch entry 5

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lurcher was in 1528

Rhymes for lurcher

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Browse Nearby Words

lurch
lurcher
lurchingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lurcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lurcher. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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