/ kraʊtʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] to put your body close to the ground by bending your legs under you
SYN squat :
He crouched down beside her.
Doyle crouched behind a hedge.
► crouched adjective :
She sat crouched in a corner.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- crouch over sb/sth
■ noun
[ sing. ] a crouching position :
She dropped to a crouch.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : perhaps from Old French crochir be bent, from croche crozier, shepherd's crook, based on Old Norse krókr hook.