[f. LURCH sb.1]
1. trans. To beat, in various games of skill, sometimes by a specified number or proportion of points. (See LURCH sb.1 2.)
c. 1350. [implied in LURCHING vbl. sb.2].
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 1062. Your old foe, the hangman, Was like to lurch you at Back-gammon.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Lurched, beaten at any Game.
1760. Foote, Minor, I. Wks. 1799, I. 241. Lurch me at four, but I was mark’d to the top of your trick, by the baron, my dear.
1763. Hoyle, Piquet, 150. It is about two to one that the Eldest-hand does not lurch the Younger-hand.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Lurch, Those who lose a game of whist without scoring five are said to be lurched.
1830. R. Hardie, Hoyle made Familiar, 61. [Cassino.] Lurched, is when your adversary has won the game, before you have gained six points.
b. fig. To defeat ? Obs.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), XI. 289. He will be lurched in that that admits of no after-game or reparation.
1829. Examiner, 354/2. Chancery Reform was lurched the week before last.
2. To leave in the lurch, disappoint, deceive. ? Obs.
a. 1651. C. Love, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lxii. 10. How many have riches served as Absalom’s mule served her master, whom she lurched, and left … hanging.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 29. Putting such an emptiness in them, as should so quickly fail and lurch the expectation.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., Lurching, leaving a Person under some embarrassment.
1791. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Apol. for Kings, Moral, Wks. 1816, II. 246. This little anecdote doth plainly show That ignorance, a king too often lurches.
1809. E. S. Barrett, Setting Sun, II. 109. The Hon. Charles James Fox,… having been lurched by lord North, turned his face to Whiggism.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. 68. They are foiled by fortune, who hath lurched generals in her time.
