crouching

Verb (1)

crouch (third-person singular simple present crouches, present participle crouching, simple past and past participle crouched)

1. (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.
   • We crouched behind the low wall until the squad of soldiers had passed by.

   Synonyms:

   huddle

2. (intransitive) To bend servilely; to bow in reverence or humility.
   • kings ſhall crouch vnto our conquering ſwords,
     And hoſtes of Souldiers ſtand amazd at vs,
     When with their fearfull tongues they ſhall confeſſe
     Theſe are the men that al the world admires,c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...

Verb (2)

crouch (third-person singular simple present crouches, present participle crouching, simple past and past participle crouched)

1. (obsolete) To sign with the cross; bless.

See all 9 meanings of crouch