cur Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an inferior dog or one of mixed breed
    mutt; mongrel.
  2. noun a cowardly and despicable person

WordNet

Cur noun
Etymology
OE. curre, kur; cf. dial. Sw. kurre dog, OD. korre watchdog, and Icel. kurra to murmur, grumble, Sw. kurra to rumble, croak, Dan. kurre to coo, whirr; prob. of imitative origin.
Definitions
  1. A mongrel or inferior dog.
    They . . . like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do. Shak.
  2. A worthless, snarling fellow; -- used in contempt.
    What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? Shak.

Webster 1913