# cur

/ˈkɝ/ (US) · /kˈɜː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cur
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. an inferior dog

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a dog that is considered low-quality, aggressive, or unfriendly.

For teachers: a mongrel or inferior dog, particularly one that is ill-tempered or cowardly.

- The stray cur barked at everyone who walked past the old gate.
- The village was plagued by a mangy cur that spent its nights howling at the moon and raiding the local bins.

### 2. a contemptible person

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a person who is mean, cowardly, or lacks any honor.

For teachers: a contemptible, cowardly, or detestable person; used as a sharp insult.

- He called the man a cur for leaving his friends in danger.
- In the historical novel, the protagonist refuses to duel with a cur who had cheated his way into high society.

### 3. a working dog

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Archaic

a type of dog used for herding sheep or guarding property.

For teachers: a working dog, specifically a sheepdog or watchdog, often in specific regional dialects.

- The farmer kept a sturdy cur to help move the cattle between fields.
- The shepherd relied on his loyal cur to keep the flock together during the harsh winter storms in the highlands.

## Examples

- He is such a cur that nobody wants to sit with him.
- While the term is often used in a lighthearted manner among friends, calling someone a cur in a professional setting can be seen as a significant social slight.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.