# lurch

> English word · Noun · IPA /lɜːt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #37,551

## Definitions
1. A sudden or unsteady movement.

## Etymology
Originally a nautical term, found in lee-larches (“the sudden and violent rolls of a ship to the leeward in high seas”), of unknown origin. Possibly the same as lurch (“to move stealthily, evade by stooping”) (see below), or from French lâcher (“to let go”).

## Easily confused with
- **lure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lurch-vs-lure)
- **lush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lurch-vs-lush)
- **lurk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lurch-vs-lurk)
- **lynch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lurch-vs-lynch)
- **lurid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lurch-vs-lurid)
- **luck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/luck-vs-lurch)
- **Lucy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lucy-vs-lurch)
- **loch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loch-vs-lurch)
- **Luca** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/luca-vs-lurch)
- **luce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/luce-vs-lurch)
- **lunch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lunch-vs-lurch)
- **latch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/latch-vs-lurch)
- **leach** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leach-vs-lurch)
- **leech** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leech-vs-lurch)
- **Lucca** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lucca-vs-lurch)
- **launch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/launch-vs-lurch)

## Common misspellings (8)
`llurch`, `lruch`, `lucrh`, `lurcch`, `lurchh`, `lurhc`, `lurrch`, `ulrch`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lurch