I. ˈhəŋkə(r) intransitive verb
( hunkered ; hunkered ; hunkering -k(ə)riŋ ; hunkers )
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hokra to crouch, creep, hūka to squat — more at hawker
: crouch , squat — usually used with down
hunkered down around the deerskin which they were scraping — Kenneth Roberts
hunkered down on his heels — Luke Short
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. usually capitalized : a member of the conservative section of the Democratic party in New York, 1845-1848
2. : a conservative in any respect : a person opposed to change or innovation
to this day there are hunkers … who object to it — H.L.Mencken
III. intransitive verb
Etymology: hunker (I)
: to settle in or dig in for a sustained period — used with down
hunker down for a good long wait — New Yorker