> Etymology: ME. curre corresponds to MDutch corre ‘canis villaticus, domesticus’ (Kilian), Sw. and Norw. (widely-spread) dial. kurre, korre ‘dog’, etc. The latter is generally associated with the onomatopœic verb ONor. kurra to murmur, grumble, Sw. kurra to grumble, rumble, snarl, Da. kurre to coo, Ger. obs. and dial. kurren to growl, grumble, murmur, coo, cf. gurren to coo, MHG. gürren to bray as an ass.
The primary sense appears thus to have been ‘growling or snarling beast’. But no corresponding verb appears in Eng., so that ME. kurre was prob. introduced from some continental source. T…