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’.