squat

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old English squatten, from Old French esquatir, from Latin coactus, perfect passive participle of cōgō (“‘force together, compress’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Adjective

squat (comparative more squat, superlative most squat)

Positive
squat

Comparative
more squat

Superlative
most squat
  1. Relatively short or low and thick or broad
    • 1927, H. P. Lovecraft, The Colour Out of Space
      On the gentle slopes there are farms, ancient and rocky, with squat, moss-coated cottages brooding eternally over old New England secrets in the lee of great ledges […]

[edit] Translations

relatively short or low and thick or broad

[edit] Noun

Weightlifter performing a squat.

Singular
squat

Plural
squats

squat (plural squats)

  1. A position assumed by bending deeply at the knees while resting on one's feet.
    • 2006, Yael Calhoun & Matthew R. Calhoun, Create a Yoga Practice for Kids, page 72
      Sit in a squat, with your feet a comfortable distance apart.
  2. (weightlifting): A specific exercise in weightlifting performed by bending deeply at the knees and then rising, especially with a barbell resting across the back.
    • 2001, Robert Wolff, Robert Wolff's Book of Great Workouts, page 58-59
      The king of all quad exercises, and arguably the best single-weight resistance exercise, is the squat.
  3. A toilet used by squatting as opposed to sitting (Wikipedia entry).
  4. A building occupied without permission, as practiced by a squatter.
    • 1996, Chris Smith, "Live Free or Die", New York Magazine‎ (8 Jul 2009), page 36
      " […] If you want to spend a night in a squat, it's all political to get in." Lately, as buildings have filled and become stringent about new admissions, much of the squatters' "My house is your house" rhetoric has become hollow.
  5. (slang) Something of no value; nothing.
    I know squat about nuclear physics.
    • 2003, "Dear Dotti", Weekly World News‎, vol. 24, no. 34 (May 6), page 23
      We didn't ask for rent, but we assumed they'd help around the house. But they don't do squat.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

position assumed by bending deeply at the knees while resting on one's feet
weightlifting: exercise
toilet
building occupied without permission

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to squat

Third person singular
squats

Simple past
squatted

Past participle
squatted

Present participle
squatting

to squat (third-person singular simple present squats, present participle squatting, simple past and past participle squatted)

  1. To bend deeply at the knees while resting on one's feet.
  2. (weightlifting) To exercise by bending deeply at the knees and then rising, while bearing weight across the shoulders or upper back.
    • 1994, Kurt, Mike, & Brett Brungardt, The Complete Book of Butt and Legs, page 161
      For those who are having, or have had, trouble squatting we suggest learning how to squat by performing the front squat […] The front squat allows you almost no alternative but to perform the exercise correctly.
  3. To occupy without permission.
    • 1890, Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives , chapter VII
      Huddled together in loathsome files, they squat there over night, or until an inquisitive policeman breaks up the congregation with his club, which in Mulberry Street has always free swing.

[edit] Translations

to bend at the knees
weightlifting: to exercise
to occupy without permission
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/squat"