squat
- 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.
- to crouch down or cower, as an animal.
- to settle on or occupy property, especially otherwise unoccupied property, without any title, right, or payment of rent.
- to settle on public land under government regulation, in order to acquire title.
- Nautical. (of a vessel, especially a power vessel) to draw more water astern when in motion forward than when at rest.
- to cause to squat.
- to occupy (property) as a squatter.
- (of a person, animal, the body, etc.) short and thickset.
- low and thick or broad: The building had a squat shape.
- seated or being in a squatting position; crouching.
- the act or fact of squatting.
- a squatting position or posture.
- 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.
- Nautical. the tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary.
- Slang. doodly-squat.
- a place occupied by squatters.
Origin of squat
Synonyms for squat
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for squat
perch, crouch, hunch, sit, cower, stoop, heavy, thick, fat, broad, splay, settle, bow, roost, chunky, dumpy, heavyset, thicksetExamples from the Web for squat
Contemporary Examples of squat
The fitness coaches at a globo-gym like Gold's would notice that a user was struggling with their squat or treadmill run.
The barracks is a squat building surrounded by sandbags on a side street near the city center.
The only difference is that you jump straight up and then land in a squat position.
In an isometric squat, drop down into your squat position and then just hold it there for as long as you can.
Squats invigorate your nervous system and help your stress response since the squat is a naturally defensive position.
Historical Examples of squat
The fine gateway of the castle is flanked by two squat towers.
Yorkshire Painted And DescribedGordon Home
It was a low vault, with squat arches, on exactly the same plan as the choir.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
The animal waddled toward the centre of the circle, short and squat and ungainly.
White FangJack London
Fire rays fall athwart the robes Of hooded men, squat and dumb.
War is KindStephen Crane
I'll squat you down in the gutter if you don't look out, Miss Fine-airs!
The Fat and the ThinEmile Zola
squat
- to rest in a crouching position with the knees bent and the weight on the feet
- to crouch down, esp in order to hide
- law (tr) to occupy land or property to which the occupant has no legal title
- weightlifting to crouch down to one's knees and rise to a standing position while holding (a specified weight) behind one's neck
- Also: squatty (ˈskwɒtɪ) short and broada squat chair
- a squatting position
- weightlifting an exercise in which a person crouches down and rises up repeatedly while holding a barbell at shoulder height
- a house occupied by squatters
Word Origin for squat
Word Origin and History for squat
early 15c., "crouch on the heels," from Old French esquatir "press down, lay flat, crush," from es- "out" (from Latin ex-) + Old French quatir "press down, flatten," from Vulgar Latin *coactire "press together, force," from Latin coactus, past participle of cogere "to compel, curdle, collect" (see cogent). Related: Squatted; squatting. Slang noun sense of "nothing at all" first attested 1934, probably suggestive of squatting to defecate. The adjective sense of "short, thick" dates from 1620s.