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huddle

 - 4 dictionary results

hud⋅dle

  [huhd-l] verb, -dled, -dling, noun
Use huddle in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to gather or crowd together in a close mass.
2. to crouch, curl up, or draw oneself together.
3. Football. to get together in a huddle.
4. to confer or consult; meet to discuss, exchange ideas, or make a decision.
–verb (used with object)
5. to heap or crowd together closely.
6. to draw (oneself) closely together, as in crouching; nestle (often fol. by up).
7. Chiefly British. to do hastily and carelessly (often fol. by up, over, or together).
8. to put on (clothes) with careless haste (often fol. by on).
–noun
9. a closely gathered group, mass, or heap; bunch.
10. Football. a gathering of the offensive team in a close circle or line behind the line of scrimmage for instructions, signals, etc., from the team captain or quarterback, usually held before each offensive play.
11. a conference, or consultation, esp. a private meeting to discuss serious matters: The labor representatives have been in a huddle for two hours.
12. confusion or disorder.
Origin:
1570–80; hud- (weak grade of root found in hide 1 ) + -le; r. ME hoder, equiv. to hod- (var. hud-) + -er -er 6

Related forms:
huddler, noun
hud⋅dling⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To huddle
hud·dle   (hŭd'l)   
n.  

  1. A densely packed group or crowd, as of people or animals.

  2. Football A brief gathering of a team's players behind the line of scrimmage to receive instructions for the next play.

  3. A small private conference or meeting.

v.   hud·dled, hud·dling, hud·dles

v.   intr.

  1. To crowd together, as from cold or fear.

  2. To draw or curl one's limbs close to one's body; crouch.

  3. Football To gather in a huddle.

  4. Informal To gather together for conference or consultation: During the crisis the President's national security advisers huddled.

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to crowd together.

  2. To draw (oneself) together in a crouch.

  3. Chiefly British To arrange, do, or make hastily or carelessly.


[From huddle, to crowd together, possibly from Low German hudeln; see (s)keu- in Indo-European roots.]
hud'dler n.
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

huddle  (v.)
1564, "to heap or crowd together," probably from Low Ger. hudern "to cover, to shelter," from M.L.G. huden "to cover up" (see hide). The noun meaning "close or secret conference" is from 1929.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

huddle

see go into a huddle.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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