Lurcher
/ˈlɜːrtʃər/noun
A dog of mixed breed, especially one used for poaching or coursing game; also, a person who lurks or hangs about suspiciously.
Did you know?The dog sense is linked to people who lurked or loitered in secret, and the word’s history sits right in the shadow-zone between hunting, theft, and surveillance.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
lurchen
“to lurk, loiter, or move stealthily”
16th Century
English
lurcher
“a person who lurks or a secret poacher”
16th Century
English
lurcher
“a mongrel dog used for poaching or coursing”
Modern English
English
lurcher
“a mixed-breed dog, especially one associated with hunting or poaching”