(dog)((.*[\r\n]+){6})(.*) #### 1 2 3 4 dog 1 2 3 4 5 puppy 7 8 #### 1 2 3 4 dog 7 8 #### 1 2 3 4 dog=puppy 7 8 #### s/(dog)(([^\n]*[\n]){6})(.*)/$1=$4/g;