hurkle

English

Alternative forms

• hurple, hirple, hurtle

Etymology

A word of unknown origin, perhaps cognate with hirple or Dutch hurken 'to squat', plus the suffix -le.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)kəl

Verb

hurkle (third-person singular simple present hurkles, present participle hurkling, simple past and past participle hurkled)

1. (intransitive) to draw in the parts of the body, especially with pain or cold
2. to cower
3. (of the limbs) to contract, to pull in

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Scots

Pronunciation

• IPA: [hʌrkl], [hɪrkl]

Verb

tae hurkle (third-person singular simple present hurkles, present participle hurklin, simple past hurkled, past participle hurkled)

1. to sit huddled in a crouched position either for warmth or secrecy, to draw oneself together like a crouching animal
2. to walk with the body in a crouching position

Derived terms

• hurklin (“hunchbacked, misshapen”)

Noun

hurkle (plural hurkles)

1. (anatomy) the upper part of the thigh, the hip

Derived terms

• hurkle-bane (“hip bone”)