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Definition of courser

courser

/ˈkɔːr.sɚ/
cour · ser

Plural:coursers
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courser Lexical Profile

courser Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several long-legged, swift-running birds of the family Glareolidae, native to deserts and arid regions of Africa and Asia.

Example

"While traversing the African savanna, the ornithologist spotted a cream-colored courser darting across the dry earth."


2

A swift and spirited horse, especially one ridden in battles or used for hunting.

Example

"The medieval knight mounted his powerful courser and rode swiftly toward the battlefield."


3

A person or animal that hunts game by sight rather than by scent, particularly a dog used in the sport of coursing.

Example

"The greyhound proved to be an exceptional courser, easily keeping the hare in its line of sight during the chase."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for courser

Word Nuance & Usage

In modern English, 'courser' is largely relegated to historical or poetic literature when referring to a horse, though it retains specialized usage in ornithology to describe specific desert birds.

• Rhymes for courser

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'corser', originating from Old French 'corsier' and Vulgar Latin 'cursarius', which traces back to the Latin 'cursus' (a running) and 'currere' (to run).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Courser. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/courser
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