hurkle

English edit

Alternative forms edit

hurple, hirple, hurtle

Etymology edit

A word of unknown origin, perhaps cognate with Scots hirple (“to limp”) or Dutch hurken (“to squat”), plus the suffix -le. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation edit

Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)kəl

Verb edit

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

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

Middle English edit

Verb edit

hurkle

Alternative form of hurtelen

Scots edit

Etymology edit

Unknown. May come from Old Norse, possibly related to Dutch hurken (“to squat”). This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): [hʌrkl], [hɪrkl]

Verb edit

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

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

Derived terms edit

hurklin (“hunchbacked, misshapen”)

Noun edit

hurkle (plural hurkles)

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

Derived terms edit

hurkle-bane (“hip bone”)