huddle

[ huhd-l ]

verb (used without object)

, hud·dled, hud·dling.

1. to gather or crowd together in a close mass.
2. to crouch, curl up, or draw oneself together.
3. Football. to get together in a huddle.
4. to confer or consult; meet to discuss, exchange ideas, or make a decision.

verb (used with object)

, hud·dled, hud·dling.

1. to heap or crowd together closely.
2. to draw (oneself ) closely together, as in crouching; nestle (often followed by up ).
3. Chiefly British. to do hastily and carelessly (often followed by up, over, or together ).
4. to put on (clothes) with careless haste (often followed by on ).

noun

1. a closely gathered group, mass, or heap; bunch.
2. Football. a gathering of the offensive team in a close circle or line behind the line of scrimmage for instructions, signals, etc., from the team captain or quarterback, usually held before each offensive play.
3. a conference, or consultation, especially a private meeting to discuss serious matters:

   The labor representatives have been in a huddle for two hours.

4. confusion or disorder.

huddle

/ ˈhʌdəl /

noun

1. a heaped or crowded mass of people or things
2. informal.
   a private or impromptu conference (esp in the phrase go into a huddle )

verb

1. to crowd or cause to crowd or nestle closely together
2. often foll by up to draw or hunch (oneself), as through cold
3. informal.
   intr to meet and confer privately
4. tr to do (something) in a careless way
5. rare.
   tr to put on (clothes) hurriedly

Derived Forms

• ˈhuddler, noun

Other Words From

• huddler noun
• huddling·ly adverb
• un·huddle verb (used with object) unhuddled unhuddling

Word History and Origins

Origin of huddle¹

1570–80; hud- (weak grade of root found in hide ¹ ) + -le; replacing Middle English hoder, equivalent to hod- (variant hud- ) + -er -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of huddle¹

C16: of uncertain origin; compare Middle English hoderen to wrap up

Idioms and Phrases

see go into a huddle .

Example Sentences

We ate farfalle in cream sauce and tiramisu, huddled under quilts, watching “The Blues Brothers” on a laptop.

From Salon

Lawmakers who made it into the building huddled together, only slightly calmer than the people outside.

From BBC

The group of hopefuls huddled in the Van Nuys courthouse square, which was littered with autumn leaves, to find out if they won.

From BBC

It is the Pelicot family, huddling close on a beach on a sunny day, and beaming at the camera.

From BBC

“Let’s get everybody to practice tomorrow,” said the first-year coach, huddled with his players around him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cluster
• confer
• consult
• converge
• crouch
• cuddle
• curl up
• gather
• snuggle