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

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.
   Archer and Jacob jumped up from behind the mound where they had been crouching with the intention of springing upon their mother unexpectedly, and they all began to walk slowly home. 1922, Virginia Woolf, chapter 2, in Jacob's Room
2. (intransitive) To bend servilely; to bow in reverence or humility.
   a crouching purpose 1816, William Wordsworth, Thanksgiving Ode

noun

1. A bent or stooped position.
   The cat waited in a crouch, hidden behind the hedge.

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

1. (obsolete) A cross.

verb

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