Crouch definition | Dictionary.com

crouch

[krouch]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to stoop or bend low.

2.	to bend close to the ground, as an animal preparing to spring or shrinking with fear.

3.	to bow or stoop servilely; cringe.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to bend low.

–noun

5.	the act of crouching.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME crouchen, perh. b. couchen to lie down (see couch ) and croken to crook ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Crouch

Spanish:

agacharse, ponerse, *estar en cuclillas,

German:

hocken,

Japanese:

かがむ

View 30 other languages »

crouch   (krouch) Pronunciation Key
v.   crouched, crouch·ing, crouch·es

v.   intr.

1. To stoop, especially with the knees bent: crouched over the grate, searching for his keys.
2. To press the entire body close to the ground with the limbs bent: a cat crouching near its prey.
To bend servilely or timidly; cringe.

v. tr.
To bend (the head or knee, for example) low, as in fear or humility.
n. The act or posture of bending low or crouching.

[Middle English crouchen, probably from Old North French *crouchir, to become bent, variant of Old French crochir, from croche, hook; see crochet.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crouch

c.1394, probably from O.Fr. crochir "become bent, crooked," from croche "hook."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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crouch
noun
1.	the act of bending low with the limbs close to the body
verb
1.	bend one's back forward from the waist on down; "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse"
2.	sit on one's heels; "In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting"; "The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm" [syn: squat]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Crouch, ID (city, FIPS 19720)
Location: (44.115496, -115.972536)
Population (2000): 154 (83 housing units)
Area: 0.419886 sq mi (land), 0.000000 sq mi (water)

Crouch, IL (township, FIPS 06517809)
Location: (38.224469, -88.498823)
Population (2000): 408 (180 housing units)
Area: 47.454472 sq mi (land), 0.014557 sq mi (water)

South Crouch, IL (township, FIPS 06570655)
Location: (38.153115, -88.542425)
Population (2000): 249 (112 housing units)
Area: 25.078575 sq mi (land), 0.006506 sq mi (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Crouch

Crouch\ (krouch; 129), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crouched (kroucht); p. pr. & vb. n. Crouching.] [OE. cruchen, crouchen, crouken; cf. E. creep, G. krauchen, kriechen, or E. crook to bend, also crouch to cross.]

1. To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.

Now crouch like a cur. --Beau. & Fl.

2. To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe. "A crouching purpose." --Wordsworth.

Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor? --Shak.

Crouch

Crouch\, v. t. [OE. cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche, cross. Cf. Crosier, Crook.]

1. To sign with the cross; to bless. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

2. To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.

She folded her arms across her chest, And crouched her head upon her breast. --Colerige.

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