haunch

American  

[hawnch, hahnch] / hɔntʃ, hɑntʃ /

noun

1. the hip.

2. the fleshy part of the body about the hip.

3. a hindquarter of an animal.

4. the leg and loin of an animal, used for food.

5. Architecture.

   1. either side of an arch, extending from the vertex or crown to the impost.

   2. the part of a beam projecting below a floor or roof slab.

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haunch British  

/ hɔːntʃ /

noun

1. the human hip or fleshy hindquarter of an animal, esp a horse or similar quadruped

2. the leg and loin of an animal, used for food

   a haunch of venison

3. Also called: hance.  architect the part of an arch between the impost and the apex

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Other Word Forms

• haunched adjective
• haunchless adjective

Etymology

Origin of haunch

1150–1200; Middle English haunche < Old French hanche < Germanic; compare Middle Dutch hanke haunch, hip, German Hanke haunch

Example Sentences

It felt as heavy and unwieldy as a haunch of deer meat.

From Literature

They were sitting calmly on their haunches, waiting to be fed, except for Black Star.

From Literature

Bo sits on his haunches, tongue hanging out, big eyes focused on me.

From Literature

Lokesh, who finished on 39 not out from 20 balls, dropped to his haunches at the finish as England's players shook his hand to congratulate his efforts.

From BBC

Togbe sat on his haunches by the fire, and I fetched the coal pot fan from the basket.

From Literature