lurch

Noun

• the act of moving forward suddenly

• abrupt up-and-down motion (as caused by a ship or other conveyance)
  • the pitching and tossing was quite exciting
    

• a decisive defeat in a game (especially in cribbage)

• an unsteady uneven gait

Verb

• defeat by a lurch

• loiter about, with no apparent aim

• move slowly and unsteadily
  • The truck lurched down the road
    

• move abruptly
  • The ship suddenly lurched to the left
    

• walk as if unable to control one's movements
  • The drunken man staggered into the room
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  lunge , pitch , pitching , stumble , stagger , skunk , prowl , shift , reel , keel , swag , careen