Cur

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: kɜː
• US IPA: kɝ
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)

Origin

From Middle English curre (compare Middle Dutch corre ("house dog")), shortened from Middle English curdogge or kurdogge, a compound whose second element is clearly dogge ("dog"). The first element is probably from Old Norse kurra ("to growl, grumble") and related to Middle Low German korren ("to growl").

Full definition of cur

Noun

1. (archaic) A mongrel or inferior dog.
• 1919, William Somerset Maugham, ,"You have no more spirit than a mongrel cur. You lie down on the ground and ask people to trample on you."
2. (archaic) A detestable person.

Anagrams

• cru
• RUC