hunkered

- 2 dictionary results

hun⋅ker

[huhng-ker]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to squat on one's heels (often fol. by down).

Informal.

a.	to hunch: The driver hunkered over the steering wheel.

b.	to hide, hide out, or take shelter (usually fol. by down): The escaped convicts hunkered down in a cave in the mountains.

c.	to hold resolutely or stubbornly to a policy, opinion, etc., when confronted by criticism, opposition, or unfavorable circumstances (usually fol. by down): Though all the evidence was against him, he hunkered down and refused to admit his guilt.

3.	Slang. to lumber along; walk or move slowly or aimlessly.

–noun

4.	hunkers, one's haunches.

—Idiom

on one's hunkers,

a.	British Informal. squatting on one's heels.

b.	suffering a period of poverty, bad luck, or the like.

Origin:
1710–20; appar. hunk (perh. nasalized var. of huck haunch; akin to ON hūka to crouch) + -er ⁶

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To hunkered

hun·ker (hŭng'kər)

intr.v. hun·kered, hun·ker·ing, hun·kers

To squat close to the ground; crouch. Usually used with down: hunkered down to avoid the icy wind.
To take shelter, settle in, or hide out. Usually used with down: hunkered down in the cabin during the blizzard.
To hold stubbornly to a position. Usually used with down: "As the White House hunkered down, G.O.P. congressional unity started crumbling" (Time).

n. hunkers
The haunches.

[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hokra, to crouch.]

Search another word or see hunkered on Thesaurus | Reference