crouch

 
Pronunciation: /kraʊtʃ/

verb

[no object]
  • adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down, typically in order to avoid detection or to defend oneself: we crouched down in the trench (be crouched) Leo was crouched before the fire

noun

[in singular]
  • a crouching stance or posture: he dropped into a defensive crouch

Origin:

late Middle English: perhaps from Old French crochir 'be bent', from croche (see crotch)