squat

[ skwot ]

verb (used without object)

, squat·ted or squat, squat·ting.

1. to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.
2. to crouch down or cower, as an animal.
3. to settle on or occupy property, especially otherwise unoccupied property, without any title, right, or payment of rent.
4. to settle on public land under government regulation, in order to acquire title.
5. Nautical. (of a vessel, especially a power vessel) to draw more water astern when in motion forward than when at rest.

verb (used with object)

, squat·ted or squat, squat·ting.

1. to cause to squat.
2. to occupy (property) as a squatter.

adjective

, squat·ter, squat·test.

1. (of a person, animal, the body, etc.) short and thickset.

   Synonyms: blocky, stocky, dumpy

2. low and thick or broad:

   The building had a squat shape.

3. seated or being in a squatting position; crouching.

noun

1. the act or fact of squatting.
2. a squatting position or posture.
3. a weightlifting exercise in which a person squats and then returns to an erect position while holding a barbell at the back of the shoulders.
4. Nautical. the tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary.
5. Slang. diddly-squat.
6. a place occupied by squatters.

squat

/ skwɒt /

verb

1. to rest in a crouching position with the knees bent and the weight on the feet
2. to crouch down, esp in order to hide
3. law tr to occupy land or property to which the occupant has no legal title
4. weightlifting to crouch down to one's knees and rise to a standing position while holding (a specified weight) behind one's neck

adjective

1. Alsosquattyˈskwɒtɪ short and broad

   a squat chair

noun

1. a squatting position
2. weightlifting an exercise in which a person crouches down and rises up repeatedly while holding a barbell at shoulder height
3. a house occupied by squatters

Derived Forms

• ˈsquatness, noun
• ˈsquatly, adverb

Other Words From

• squat·ly adverb
• squat·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of squat¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (verb) squatten, from Old French esquater, esquatir, equivalent to es- + quatir, from unattested Vulgar Latin coactīre “to compress,” equivalent to Latin coāct(us), past participle of cōgere “to compress” ( co- + ag(ere) “to drive” + -tus past participle suffix) + -īre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; ex- ¹, co-

Word History and Origins

Origin of squat¹

C13: from Old French esquater , from es- ex- ¹+ catir to press together, from Vulgar Latin coactīre (unattested), from Latin cōgere to compress, from co- + agere to drive

Example Sentences

As you jump, switch your leg position in the air and land with soft knees in the opposite split-squat stance.

From Outside Online

Grasp the door frame with one arm extended in front of you, and perform a squat, keeping resistance through your arm as you stand back up.

From Washington Post

OK, legs a little tired, gonna squat down here, maybe just take a knee.

From Outside Online

To do this, they measure joint angles while the subjects do an unloaded half-squat.

From Outside Online

This might look like a minute of burpees followed by two minutes of recovery or 20 seconds of jump squats followed by a minute of recovery.

From Washington Post

The fitness coaches at a globo-gym like Gold's would notice that a user was struggling with their squat or treadmill run.

From The Daily Beast

The barracks is a squat building surrounded by sandbags on a side street near the city center.

From The Daily Beast

There may well be a chill here, but it has diddly-squat to do with the one Senator Alexander fears.

From The Daily Beast

Deep Squat—For most squats you want to get your thighs parallel with the ground but for a deep squat you go ALL the way down.

From The Daily Beast

The only difference is that you jump straight up and then land in a squat position.

From The Daily Beast

Neither of us spoke again, and at length the squat log buildings of Pend d' Oreille loomed ahead of us in the night.

From Project Gutenberg

Madame Antoine seated her fat body, broad and squat, upon a bench beside the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Kerry crossed the room, laid his oilskin and cane upon a chair, and from the shelf where it reposed took a squat volume.

From Project Gutenberg

These people simply squat down wherever they can find a natural catchment for water.

From Project Gutenberg

I could not feel comfortable in the seats and lounges, as they were very low, requiring an oriental squat at which I am not adept.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cower
• crouch
• hunch
• perch
• sit
• stoop