squatting

intransitive verb squatted, squatting

1. to crouch so as to sit on the heels with the knees bent and the weight resting on the balls of the feet
2. to crouch or cower close to the ground: said of an animal
3. ☆ to settle on land, esp. public or unoccupied land, without right or title
4. ☆ to settle on public land under regulation by the government, in order to get title to it
5. to occupy illegally an empty, abandoned, or condemned house, building, apartment, etc.

Origin: ME squatten < MFr esquatir < es- (L ex-), intens. + quatir, to press flat < VL *coactire < L coactus, pp. of cogere, to force, compress: see cogent

transitive verb

adjective squatter, squattest

1. crouched in a squatting position
2. short and heavy or thick

noun

1. the act of squatting
2. the position taken in squatting; crouching posture
3. a dwelling used by a squatter
4. ☆ Slang
   1. anything: used in a negative construction signifying “nothing or a very small amount”: he doesn't know squat about it
   2. nothing
5. Weight Lifting a type of exercise in which a person holding a barbell at shoulder height squats, then stands erect