Lurch (?), v. i. [L. lurcare, lurcari.] To swallow or eat greedily; to
devour; hence, to swallow up. [Obs.]
Too far off from great cities, which may hinder business; too near
them, which lurcheth all provisions, and maketh everything dear.
Bacon.
Lurch, n. [OF. lourche name of a game; as adj., deceived, embarrassed.]
1. An old game played with dice and counters; a variety of the game of
tables.
2. A double score in cribbage for the winner when his adversary has
been left in the lurch.
Lady --- has cried her eyes out on losing a lurch.
Walpole.
To leave one in the lurch. (a) In the game of cribbage, to leave one's
adversary so far behind that the game is won before he has scored
thirty-one. (b) To leave one behind; hence, to abandon, or fail to
stand by, a person in a difficulty. Denham.
But though thou'rt of a different church, I will not leave thee in
the lurch.
Hudibras.