hunkers

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhʌŋkəz/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hunkers /ˈhʌŋkəz/ pl n

Etymology: 18th Century: of uncertain origin

hun•ker /ˈhʌŋkɚ/USA pronunciation v. [no object;
~ + down]

to squat;
crouch:They hunkered down and drew diagrams on the sand.
to settle in for a length of time:The troops hunkered down to wait out the air raid. The dictator hunkered down in his bomb shelter and escaped the shelling.

hun•ker (hung′kər),USA pronunciation v.i.

to squat on one's heels (often fol. by down).
Informal Terms
- to hunch:The driver hunkered over the steering wheel.
- to hide, hide out, or take shelter (usually fol. by down):The escaped convicts hunkered down in a cave in the mountains.
- to hold resolutely or stubbornly to a policy, opinion, etc., when confronted by criticism, opposition, or unfavorable circumstances (usually fol. by down):Though all the evidence was against him, he hunkered down and refused to admit his guilt.
Slang Termsto lumber along;
walk or move slowly or aimlessly.

hunkers, one's haunches.
British Terms, British Terms on one's hunkers:
- [Brit. Informal.]squatting on one's heels.
- suffering a period of poverty, bad luck, or the like.

1710–20; apparently hunk (perh. nasalized variant of huck haunch; akin to Old Norse hūka to crouch) + -er⁶

Hun•ker (hung′kər),USA pronunciation n.

American Historya member of the conservative faction in the Democratic party in New York State, 1845–48. Cf. Barnburner.

Hun′ker•ism, n.
Hun′ker•ous, adj.
Hun′ker•ous•ness, n.

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