lurch1
  
  n.
 a sudden unsteady movement.
v.
 make such a movement; stagger.
Etymology
  C17: of unknown origin.
 
  
    
lurch2
  
  n.
 
(
in phr. leave someone in the lurch)
 leave someone in a difficult situation without assistance or support.
Etymology
  C16: from Fr. lourche, the name of a game resembling backgammon, used in the phr. demeurer lourche ‘be discomfited’.