Lurched
/lɜːrtʃt/noun
Moved or staggered suddenly and unsteadily, or made an abrupt, jerky movement.
Did you know?Lurch is first recorded in the 16th century as a sudden, jerking movement word, and its exact origin is uncertain, which makes it one of English’s eerie little “mystery” words.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
lurch
“A sudden, abrupt movement or swerve; to move unsteadily or with a jerk.”
16th–17th Century
English
lurche
“Early spellings of the same word, used for a sudden movement or abrupt turn.”
Modern English
English
lurched
“Past tense and past participle of lurch, meaning moved or swayed suddenly and unsteadily.”
Uncertain
Unknown
?
“The deeper origin is unclear; scholars have proposed various explanations, but none is firmly established.”