Lurches
/ˈlɜːr.tʃɪz/noun
Third-person singular present tense of lurch, meaning to make an abrupt, unsteady movement or to move suddenly in a way that suggests imbalance.
Did you know?The exact origin of *lurch* is uncertain, but English has long used it for a sudden, awkward sway or setback, which is why it feels so physically and emotionally disorienting.
Etymological Timeline
16th–17th Century
English
lurch
“A sudden sideways movement, wobble, or stagger; also a sudden setback or loss.”
Modern English
English
lurches
“Moves or sways suddenly and unsteadily; also repeatedly suffers abrupt setbacks.”
Uncertain
Unknown
—
“The deeper pre-English origin is disputed and not securely established in standard reference works.”
Uncertain
Unknown
—
“Because the etymology is unclear, no reliable root chain can be given without speculation.”