currish
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a cur.
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curlike; snarling; quarrelsome.
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contemptible; base.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- currishly adverb
- currishness noun
Etymology
Origin of currish
First recorded in 1425–75, currish is from the late Middle English word kuresshe. See cur, -ish 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a moment I was beside her, riding bare-back, with Maisie clasping my waist, as indeed we had often ridden before—though never so perilously, nor yet with such a currish retinue yowling at our tail.
From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
In spite of all these Roman basilisks, That seek to quell us with their currish looks, We will to Pontus: we'll have gold, my hearts; Those oriental pearls shall deck our brows.
From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 7 by Various
There are faces which, in their usual form, seem to bluster with prosperity, but which the loss of a dozen points at whist will reduce to that currish aspect which reminds one of a dog-whip.
From The Eustace Diamonds by Trollope, Anthony
Such rival Leos flourish, And mutual hatred nourish, With a snapping almost currish, upon Afric's shore.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, May 2, 1891 by Various
As one well-fed dog is sure to be snarlish to a poorer brother—poor human nature—this currish principle is but too true when applied to us.
From The Kentuckian in New-York, Volume I (of 2) or, The Adventures of Three Southerns by Caruthers, William Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
