hunker
UK[ˈhʌŋkə]US[ˈhʌŋkər]
v
To lower the body into a squatting position, especially to take shelter or wait
v
To adopt a stubbornly defensive or uncooperative attitude; to dig in
Etymology
The verb 'hunker' is of obscure origin, first appearing in Scots and Northern English dialects in the early 18th century. It is most plausibly linked to the Old Norse verb huka, meaning 'to squat, crouch down', which is related to the Old English hūcian with a similar meaning. This connection places it within a family of Germanic words describing a low, bent bodily posture. The semantic evolution is direct, retaining the core physical meaning of crouching low. The figurative sense of adopting a stubborn, defensive stance developed in the 20th century, extending the idea of physically settling in to a metaphorical position of resistance.
Analysis
The word 'hunker' is a simplex word of uncertain origin, likely from a Germanic source. It functions as a single, unanalyzable lexical unit in modern English.
Examples
We had to hunker down under the picnic table as the storm passed overhead.
The company decided to hunker down and focus on its core business during the economic downturn.
The soldiers hunkered in the trenches, waiting for the enemy's advance.