Crouch
Crouch (krouch; 129) , intransitive verb
[Old English cruchen, crouchen, crouken; compare English creep, German krauchen, kriechen, or English crook to bend, also crouch to cross.]
1.
To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.
Now crouch like a cur.
2.
To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe.
A crouching purpose.
Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor?
Crouch , transitive verb
[Old English cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche, cross. Compare Crosier, Crook.]
1.
To sign with the cross; to bless. [Obsolete] — Chaucer
2.
To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.
She folded her arms across her chest,
And crouched her head upon her breast.