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

• ˈsquatly, adverb
• ˈsquatness, noun

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

Homeless prison leavers include those rough sleeping, staying in night shelters, campsites or squatting.

From BBC

She says some families broke into the building and were squatting in the empty flats.

From BBC

The squat concrete building with a small courtyard in front wasn’t built to house people.

From Los Angeles Times

He also said they were occasionally forced to perform hundreds of squats as punishment for "disciplinary breaches".

From BBC

I trained two or three times a week — nothing crazy, just good old fashioned bicep curls, weighted squats, plank holds.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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