cur

Meaning

1. (dated, humorous) A contemptible or inferior dog.
2. (dated, humorous) A detestable person.
3. (archaic, dialectal) A sheepdog or watchdog.

Synonyms

mongrel

mutt

dog

🐕

tyke

donkey

🫏

pooch

feist

street dog

mongrel dog

bitzer

ass

🍑

random-bred dog

caitiff

coward

craven

Translations

Köter

🐕

κοπρίτης

Töle

🐕

corniaud

κοπρόσκυλο

perro

🐕

cabot

clébard

🐕

vira-lata

it

🐕

mâtin

ploert

cane

🐕

Hund

🐕

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɜː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: curre

Cognate with Middle Dutch: corre

Cognate with Dutch: korre

Cognate with Swedish: kurre

Cognate with Old Norse: kurra

Cognate with Middle Low German: kurren

In summary

From Middle English curre (“watchdog, small hunting dog, mongrel, mutt”), perhaps of Middle Low German or North Germanic origin. Compare Middle Dutch corre (“domestic dog, yard dog, watch-dog”), dialectal Dutch korre (“dog, yard dog”), dialectal Swedish kurre (“a dog”). Compare also Old Norse kurra (“to growl; grumble”), Middle Low German kurren, korren (“to growl”). Compare also Middle Dutch querie (“female dog, bitch”).