[f. LURCH v.1]
† 1. An opportunity of ‘lurching’ or outstripping others in eating. (Cf. LURCH v.1 2.) Obs.
1568. North, Gueuara’s Diall Pr., IV. vii. 125 b. And if perhaps a courtier come late, and the table be all ready full, and the lurch out, yet he will not be ashamed to eat his meat neuertheles. For albee it hee can not bee placed at his ease yet … rather than fayle he will syt of half a buttock.
2. To lie at (on, upon the) lurch: to lie concealed; to be in a lurking place; to lie in wait. lit. and fig.
1578. O. Roydon, in T. Proctor’s Gorg. Gallery, Pref. Verses. The drowsie Drones doo neuer take such toyle, But lye at lurch, like men of Momus minde.
1589. R. Robinson, Gold. Mirr. (Chetham Soc.), 25. Fained Friendship now layes on lurtch, his faithful friend to spil.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., Democr. to Rdr. (1651), 29. Another Epicurean company, lying at lurch as so many vultures, watching for a prey of Church goods.
16[?]. Paradox, xvii. in Third Collect. Poems (1689), 25. Or H—, that lyes upon the Lurch, Who left the Charters, shall restore the Church.
1762. Goldsm., Nash, Wks. (Globe), 548/2. He chiefly laboured to be thought a sayer of good things; and by frequent attempts was now and then successful, for he ever lay upon the lurch.
1860. J. P. Kennedy, W. Wirt, I. v. 68. The enemy of human happiness, always lying at lurch to make prey of the young.
