Also 5 sqwat(e, 7, 9 dial., squot, 9 dial. swat. [pa. pple. of SQUAT v. Cf. QUAT a.]
I. 1. In predicative use: Seated in a squatting or crouching posture; sitting close to the ground.
a. Of a hare or other animal.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxiv. If it happe … þat ony hunter fynde her sqwat,… he shall blowe a moot and rechate and stirt her. Ibid. If it happe þat she be sqwate to fore hem.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1315. So how,… the hare is squat!
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & Fly, xxiv. 26. Neuer was there yet any larke or wat, Before hawke or dog, flatter darde or squat Then by this answere.
1602. Rowlands, Greenes Ghost, 43. The tumbler, who lies squat in the brakes till the Conie be come forth out of her burrow.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., VI. 647. A Toad, squat on a Border, spies The Gardner passing by.
1795. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Royal Tour, Wks. 1816, III. 49. Squat on his speckled haunches gapes the Toad, And frogs affrighted hop along the road.
1897. Christian Herald (N. Y.), 4 Aug., 592/1. Does not the panther, squat in the grass, know a calf when he sees it?
b. Of persons.
In some contexts approaching to an advb. use.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 73. Then to vs squat grooueling in this wise the oracle aunswerd.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 800. Him there they found Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of Eve.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey (1677), 268. Ulysses, to be sure that none remain Alive, and under seats or tables squat, Searcht well the hall.
1730. Fielding, Tom Thumb, II. x. While the two stools her sitting part confound, Between ’em both [to] fall squat upon the ground.
1748. Smollett, R. Random, xxxix. Where I found her sitting squat on her hams on the floor.
1851. Mayne Reid, Scalp Hunt., xxxi. 235. The earless trapper was sitting upon the prairie, squat on his hams.
1878. P. Bayne, Purit. Rev., v. 168. Satan, squat at his ear in the form of a sycophant priest, had told him [etc.].
Comb. 1897. Gunter, Susan Turnbull, ii. 18. The … Eastern potentate, who sits squat-legged indulging in his nargileh.
c. Of things. rare.
1757. Mrs. Montagu’s Lett., IV. 160. She has made them lie squat with some ivory thimbles.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 76. The shrub lies squat to the ground.
2. dial. Hidden from observation; quiet, still.
1841–. in various dial. glossaries and texts (N. Cy., Yks., Lancs., Notts., E. Anglia, etc.).
II. † 3. Contused, crushed. Obs.–1
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, II. xliii. 280. This ointment … is singular good in the curing of … brused or squat nailes, wounds old and new [etc.].
4. Short and thick; disproportionately broad or wide; podgy; thick-set: a. Of persons, animals, or their limbs, etc. Squat lobster (see quot. 1902).
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 12. The Tartar is a stubbed squat fellow, hard bred, and such are their horses.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1308/4. A broad squot white beagle Bitch.
1717. Prior, Alma, I. 16. The Mind,… Throughout the Body squat or tall Is, bonâ fide, All in All.
1740. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 61. She is a broad, squat, pursy, fat thing, quite ugly.
1779. Mirror, No. 2. A short squat man, with a carbuncled face.
1826. Scott, Woodst., i. A squat broad Little John sort of figure.
1849. H. Miller, Footpr. Creat., iii. (1874), 34. Squat, robust, strongly-built fishes.
1879. A. R. Wallace, Australasia, v. 86. The nose … becomes broader and somewhat squat further down.
1902. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 10), XXXII. 111/1. Amongst other crustacea, the squat lobster (Themis orientalis) is … obtained by trawling in the southern waters.
b. In general use.
1684. Lond. Gaz., No. 1933/4. She is square before, with a square squat Stem.
1714. Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1733), I. 333. Little squat bibles clasp’d in brass.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., Explan. Terms 389. Sessiles, squat, having no Foot-stalk.
1861. Sat. Rev., 21 Sept., 305. The [printing] type … is somewhat squat and angular.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. vi. One of those squat, high-shouldered, short-necked glass bottles.
1885. Runciman, Skippers & Sh., 103. Wilfrid joined a squat brig that crossed the Bay.
1891. E. Gosse, Gossip in Library, i. 10. A squat volume published two centuries ago.
c. Of buildings or parts of these.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. A squat (or well compacted) House.
a. 1771. Gray, Wks. (1843), V. 329. The capitals … are all in general too squat and too gross for the pillars which they are meant to adorn.
1828. Duppa, Trav. Italy, etc. 122. The arches are circular, and the columns squat.
1861. Beresf. Hope, Eng. Cathedr. 19th C., vi. 224. The nave … looks absolutely squat, owing to the lowness of the arcade.
1889. John Bull, 2 March, 147/2. It must either be very low and squat in proportion, or it must be of such a scale in elevation as to rival the Abbey.
5. Characterized by squatness of form or structure.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., IV. 39. From its [sc. the marmot’s] squat muscular make, it has great strength joined to great agility.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 82. [The palace] presents ideas rather of squat solidity, than of princely magnificence.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks., I. 133. The roof … gives a very squat aspect to the temple.
1879. Green, Readings fr. Eng. Hist., xxi. 108. Their buildings … retained their primitive squat, low and meagre proportions.
6. Comb., as squat-bodied, -built, -hatted.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4137/4. A dapple brown bay squat Bodied Mare.
1873. Greenwood, In Strange Company, 202. A sinister-looking, squat-built old gentleman.
1902. ‘Linesman,’ Words Eyewitness, 220. A string of cattle … driven by dark, squat-hatted figures on horseback.
