Cur

The term cur refers to a mixed-breed dog. Originally the word cur referred to a certain English purpose-bred, short-tailed cattle driving dog known only from historical records, the cur dog, but in modern usage it applies to any mixed-breed.

Among dog experts curs are any of several closely related North American purpose-bred treeing hounds, some of which have since achieved breed recognition.

The derivation of the word cur dates from the 13th century. It is thought to be short for the Middle English curdogge, which derives from the word curren, meaning to growl. According to the Dictionary of True Etymologies the original root of the word may be Germanic, possibly from the Old Norse kurra meaning to grumble. If so, the word may be onomatopoeic.

Among dog experts, the terms cur and feist both refer to purpose-bred North American treeing hounds. The term feist, however, is exclusively used for only the smallest of these, such as the DenMark Feist, Mullins' Feist, and the Thornburg Feist; whereas curs are much larger. In addition, the term feist is one of several terms that have been used to refer to the Rat Terrier, which is not a treeing hound.

In 1790, Thomas Bewick wrote:

The Cur Dog is a trusty and useful servant to the farmer and grazier; and, although it is not taken notice of by naturalists as a distinct race, yet it is now so generally used, especially in the North of England, and such great attention is paid in breeding it, that we cannot help considering it as a permanent kind. They are chiefly employed in driving cattle; in which way they are extremely useful. They are larger, stronger, and fiercer than the Shepherd's Dog; and their hair is smoother and shorter. They are mostly black and white colour. Their ears are half-pricked; and many of them are whelped with short tails, which seem as if they had been cut: These are called Self-tailed Dogs. They bite very keenly; and as they always make their attack at the heels, the cattle have no defence against them: In this way they are more than a match for a Bull, which they quickly compel to run. Their sagacity is uncommonly great. They know their master's fields, and are singularly attentive to the cattle that are in them: A good Dog watches, goes his rounds; and, if any strange cattle should happen to appear amongst the herd, although unbidden, he quickly flies at them, and with keen bites obliges them to depart.

...
Wikipedia