Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SQUAT, v.i. [W. yswatiaw, from yswad, a falling or throw; It. quatto, squat, close; quattare, to squat, to cower, to lurk. It may perhaps be allied to It. guatare, to watch, Fr. guetter, to wait, to watch.]

1. To sit down upon the hams or heels; as a human being.
2. To sit close to the ground; to cower; as an animal.
3. To settle on another's land without pretense of title; a practice very common in the wilderness.
4. To stoop or lie close to escape observation, as a partridge or rabbit.