squat

[skwot]

verb (used without object)

squatted, squat, squatting. 

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)

squatted, squat, squatting. 

1. to cause to squat.

2. to occupy (property) as a squatter.

adjective

squatter, squattest 

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. Also: squatty. 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

Other Word Forms

• squatly adverb
• squatness 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

Bending and squatting all day is hard work.

Read more on Literature

He said: "No one should be forced to live in unsafe conditions, whether it's children in poor-quality B&Bs or people having to sleep on the streets, in tents or in squats."

Read more on BBC

“It’s for people with shoulder impingement or spinal compression issues. It takes all the compression off your spine and allows you to perform a squat under resistance.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

During our interview, he repeatedly popped up from the Starbucks table to demonstrate his favorite stretches and show off full body squats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He has not been on a track in more than a year now, and does not miss squatting obscenely heavy amounts in the gym and endless hours indoors on static bikes.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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