I saw a post on Facebook a few minutes ago, a picture of Von Plott I think it was and some of his original dogs. Leggy, shorter eared, and across the color spectrum
Until relatively recently, “cur” was a pejorative, not a breed description.
Mr.Parker I believe your theory is correct but that the use of term “Cur” in the manner you describe goes back a long way.
Best example is this is a line from from President Abraham Lincoln’s poem
“The Bear Hunt”
“...The tall fleet cur, with deep-mouthed voice,
Now speeds him, as the wind;
While half-grown pup, and short-legged fice,
Are yelping far behind.”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45901/the-bear-huntOne of the earliest known uses of the term “cur” in America that I can find is in President George Washington’s journals December 1770 concerning dogs that had managed to breed with one of his hounds.
“Lined” being an old world term for bred and “Jowler” & “Singer” are hounds named in his breeding program.
“...shut up Singer after She had been first lined by one or two Cur Dogs.
Jowler being put in with her lind her several times; and his Puppies if to be distinguished saved.”
Just thought I could provide some examples of the term being used historically in the manner you described.
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