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

It revolved around rudimentary weightlifting; first and foremost, sets of back squats the day after he took the mound.

From Los Angeles Times

With a wink and a flick of her ponytail, Sue and six other dancers — all sporting shiny, one-piece leotards with gratuitous cutouts — begin to gyrate, thrust, and squat to throbbing electronic music.

From Salon

As the hours wore on, people in line squatted or sat on the concrete to rest their aching legs.

From Los Angeles Times

“Since I was in middle school growing up, I did a lot of squatting,” Hunter said.

From Los Angeles Times

At the shore, he squats and dips a clear cup into the salty water.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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