Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CROUCH, v.i. [G. kriechen, kroch, kröche, to creep, to stoop, to cringe, probably allied to crook, Fr. crochu, as cringe to crank. Class Rg. Vulgarly, crooch, scrooch.]

1. To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground; as an animal. A dog crouches to his master; a lion crouches in the thicket.
2. To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe. Every one that is left in thy house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of bread. 1 Sam ii.