hunker

hun·ker  (hngkr)

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

1. To squat close to the ground; crouch. Usually used with down: hunkered down to avoid the icy wind.

2. To take shelter, settle in, or hide out. Usually used with down: hunkered down in the cabin during the blizzard.

3. 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.

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

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

hunker - sit on one's heels; "In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting"; "The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm" hunker down, scrunch up, squat, scrunch, crouch sit, sit down - be seated