cur

¹ American  

[kur] / kɜr /

noun

1. a mongrel dog, especially a worthless or unfriendly one.

2. a mean, cowardly person.

   Synonyms:

   heel, cad, blackguard

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cur. ² American  

abbreviation

1. currency.

2. current.

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cur British  

/ kɜː /

noun

1. any vicious dog, esp a mongrel

2. a despicable or cowardly person

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Other Word Forms

• curlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cur

1175–1225; Middle English curre, apparently shortened from curdogge. See cur dog

Example Sentences

“The black mouth cur is the best dog out there,” said Payne.

From Washington Times • Feb. 26, 2018

Young women would boast about being chatted up by the old cur at the local deli.

From Slate • Nov. 11, 2016

Our Hei-Hei — a Pekingese cross, we believe — looks quite the cur in such well-bred circles.

From Time • Jun. 15, 2016

An indignant Whitlam branded Fraser "Kerr's cur," and urged voters to "maintain the rage" at the ballot box.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2015

“You little cur, what have you done to Toddy?”

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis