crouch

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɹaʊ̯t͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷaʊ̯t͡ʃ] (Canada, Canadian raising) IPA(key): /ˈkɹɐʊ̯t͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷɐʊ̯t͡ʃ]; /ˈkɹɜʊ̯t͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷɜ̞ʊ̯t͡ʃ]; /ˈkɹʌʊ̯t͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷʌʊ̯t͡ʃ]; /ˈkɹəʊ̯t͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷəʊ̯t͡ʃ] (/aʊ̯/-fronting) (Southern US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈkɹæʊ̯t͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷæʊ̯t͡ʃ] (/aʊ̯/-monophthongization) (Pittsburgh, General South African) IPA(key): /ˈkɹaːt͡ʃ/, [ˈkʰɹʷaːt͡ʃ] Rhymes: -aʊtʃ Hyphenation: crouch === Etymology 1 === From Middle English crouchen (“to bend, crouch”), variant of croken (“to bend, crook”), from crok (“crook, hook”), from Old Norse krókr (“hook”), from Proto-Germanic *krōkaz (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerg- (“wicker, bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, wind, weave”). Compare Middle Dutch krōken (“to crook, curl”). More at crook. ==== Verb ==== crouch (third-person singular simple present crouches, present participle crouching, simple past and past participle crouched) (intransitive) To bend down; to stoop low; to stand close to the ground with legs bent, like an animal when waiting for prey, or someone in fear. Synonym: huddle (intransitive) To bend servilely; to bow in reverence or humility. ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== crouch (plural crouches) A bent or stooped position. ===== Translations ===== ==== Derived terms ==== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English crouche, cruche, from Old English crūċ (“cross”). Compare Old Saxon krūci (“cross”), Old High German krūzi (“cross”). Doublet of cross and crux. ==== Noun ==== crouch (plural crouches) (obsolete) A cross. ===== Derived terms ===== ==== Verb ==== crouch (third-person singular simple present crouches, present participle crouching, simple past and past participle crouched) (obsolete) To sign with the cross; bless. ===== Translations ===== === See also === === Anagrams === Crochu == Middle English == === Noun === crouch alternative form of crucche