Lurch, n. [OF. lourche name of a game; as adj., deceived, embarrassed.] 1. An old game played with dice and counters; a variety of the game of tables.
2. A double score in cribbage for the winner when his adversary has been left in the lurch.
Lady —- has cried her eyes out on losing a lurch. Walpole.
To leave one in the lurch. (a) In the game of cribbage, to leave one's adversary so far behind that the game is won before he has scored thirty-one. (b) To leave one behind; hence, to abandon, or fail to stand by, a person in a difficulty. Denham.
But though thou'rt of a different church,
I will not leave thee in the lurch. Hudibras.