cur

plural curs

1. datedhumorousA contemptible or inferior dog.

   "You have no more spirit than a mongrel cur. You lie down on the ground and ask people to trample on you."

   1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 25”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC

   4 more examples

   A fals double tunge is more fiers and fell Then Cerberus the cur couching in the kenel of hel; Wherof hereafter, I thinke for to write,

   c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.

   you have many enemies, that know not why they are so, but, like to village-curs, bark when their fellows do.

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]

   A Churliſh Envious Curr vvas gotten into a Manger, and there lay Growling and Snarling to keep the Horſes from their Provender. The Dog Eat None himſelf, and yet rather Ventur'd the Starving his Own Carcaſe then he would ſuffer any thing elfe to be the Better for't.

   1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] LXXVI. A Dog in a Manger.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 75

   He threw the soapsuds skilfully over a wretched little yellow cur he had, then turning his face to the agent's house, he shouted from the distance, "All the men gone last night!"

   1897, Joseph Conrad, “II”, in An Outpost of Progress

2. datedhumorousA detestable person.

   "Who 's a cur - now - hey?"

   1900, Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, page vi. 54

   2 more examples

   This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I have not the power to muzzle him.

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   Clayton interrupted him. “Stop!” he cried. “Stop! What manner of cur are you that you traduce the character of a good woman whom we believe dead! God!”

   1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 201

3. archaicdialectalA sheepdog or watchdog.

   Then send our Curs to gather up the Sheep

   1710, Ambrose Phillips, Pastorals, The Fourth Pastoral , line 119

   1 more example

   "He's a good sharp cur," or "a good cur," is said of any dog that barks at strangers and guards his master's property.

   1884, Robert Holland, A Glossary of Words used in the County of Chester, page 90