[Of obscure origin.
The word app. occurs as the second element of lee-larches in the first quot. below, for which later nautical and other dicts. substitute lee-lurches. If lee-larches in Falconer be not a misprint for -lurches, it may represent an altered pronunciation of the older lee-latch, in the word of command ‘have a care of the lee-latch,’ i.e., ‘look that the ship does not go to leeward of her course’ (Milit. & Sea Dict., 1711). It seems possible that lurch originated in the compound lee-lurch, an alteration (by association with LURCH sb.1 3) of lee-larch for lee-latch, which prob. contains LATCH sb.2, LETCH sb.2 inclination (for the sense development cf. the etymological note on LIST sb.5).]
1. (Orig. Naut.) A sudden leaning over to one side, as of a ship, a person staggering, etc. Also, a gait characterized by such movements. Phr. to give a lurch.
[1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine, Lee-larches, the sudden and violent rolls which a ship often takes to leeward in a high sea.]
1819. Byron, Juan, II. xix. Here the ship gave a lurch, and he grew sea-sick.
1843. Bethune, Scott. Peasant’s Fire-side, 35. The heavy lurch, told too plainly what he had been about.
1848. J. Grant, Adv. Aide-de-C., I. iv. 47. As the carriage swayed from side to side, I expected at every lurch, that the whole party would be upset.
1863. Baring-Gould, Iceland, 266. They got the vessel afloat, and with a lurch, she ran out to sea.
1876. Besant & Rice, Gold. Butterfly, i. There was the slightest possible lurch in their walk.
1901. Speaker, 6 April, 10/2. We were soon clattering over cobbled streets with an ample lurch at intervals.
2. U.S. A propensity, penchant, leaning.
1854. Miss M. S. Cummins, Lamplighter, xv. 92. She has a nateral lurch for it [learning], and it comes easy to her.
1878. A. Phelps, in E. S. Phelps, Memoir (1891), 219. I think I got from Professor Stuart and Albert Barnes, both of whom were penurious letter-writers, a lurch adverse to such work.
