squat
UK: /skwɒt/ | US: /skwɑːt/
vi. to crouch or bend the knees and lower the body close to the ground
adj. short and thick; low to the ground
n. the act or position of squatting; an unoccupied building lived in without permission
The word "squat" originated in Middle English from Old French esquatir, meaning "to crush or flatten." Over time, it evolved to describe the physical act of crouching low, likely due to the imagery of compressing the body. The adjective sense ("short and thick") emerged from the same idea of being pressed down or compact. The noun form, referring to occupying a space unlawfully, arose in the 19th century, metaphorically extending the notion of "settling heavily" into a place.
The athlete squats to strengthen her leg muscles.
The squat building blended into the rocky landscape.
He found a squat in an abandoned warehouse.
The cat squatted low, ready to pounce.
Squatting in empty properties is illegal in many cities.