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crouch

 - 3 dictionary results

crouch

  [krouch]
Use crouch in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
croucher, noun
crouch⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To crouch
crouch   (krouch)   
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.

  2. 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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

crouch 
c.1394, probably from O.Fr. crochir "become bent, crooked," from croche "hook."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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