Middle English Dictionary Entry
squatten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | squatten v. Also squat(te; p. squat & (error) sqwte; pl. squat(te(n; ppl. squat(te, squate, squatted. |
| Etymology | From OF esquater (var. of escater) & esquatir (var. of escatir). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. outsquatten v., quaten v., quatten v., squachen v., tosquatten v.
1.
(a) To crush (sb. or sth.), squash, smash; ~ oute; (b) to seat (the cross) violently in the ground; ~ doun; (c) of the cross: to fall heavily into place; also, of a body: fall to the ground; ~ doun (adoun); (d) to crouch in hiding; -- also refl.; ppl. squat, crouched down; (e) to thwart (sth.), quash.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 22.8 : Þe foundementys of hilles ben togidere smyten and squatte [vr. squat; L conquassata].
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)109.7 : Sqwat sal he heuedes, blode and bane.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.68 : Þis stoon shal falle on siche men and squatte hem al to poudir.
- a1450 Diseases Women(2) (Sln 2463)124 : Þe mydwiff..dresse hym so þat he may come forth on þe moste kyndely maner, þat he sqwat nouȝt his hondes in þe moder sides.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)221/2 : They sqwatte oute the braynes of many coursers.
b
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)311 : Whon þe Roode ros & doun was squat, Þe nayles renten him, hondes and feete.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8:Horst.)87 : Þere went after þe cros many Iues..and lyft it vpon hy..and squat it harde in to þe pyt of þe hyl þat made was þerfore.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)11/71 : Whanne he was nailud hand & foot o þe cros, þe Iuwes tokin hit..& squatten it so ofte in-to þe ground til hit wolde stonde rith vp.
c
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)361 : Þei heouen him vp..and lette þe cros squatten a-doun sodeynliche in to þe marteis.
- c1450 *Bonav.Medit.(4) (MSU 1)51 : Wondur yt wase..þat þe nayles rent nogth owt all þe flech be twen þe fyngers and so all þe body sqwte [read: sqwate] to þe grownde.
- c1450 *Bonav.Medit.(4) (MSU 1)52 : Þay suffer þe heuy crose and hys body sqwat donne all at ones with a grett swyng in to þe morteys.
d
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)12 : Somme [hares] renneth a litel while, and than abiden and squatteþ.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)104 : If it happe þat she [hare]..be squat [vr. sqwate] to fore hem..þan shal he say, 'How sa, amy.'
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)105 : If it happe..þat she [hare] squat owhere [vr. sqwat not her] aforun þe houndes, and þat eny hunter fynde hure squat, if þe houndes ben negh about, he shuld blow a moot and rechace.
- a1425 *York MGame [OD col.] (Dgb 182)ii : Þen he [hart] maketh a ruse..and þere he stalleth or squatteth [Vsp: quatteþ].
e
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)333 : Good and þrifty processis schulen be lettid and squattid bi such vnþrifti criyng and claymyng.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Parton.(1) (RwlPoet 14)4520 : Oure acorde Ys alle squat and dyssarayd.
Note: Supplemental material for sense (e).--per MG
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Sln.122 Artist.Recipes (Sln 122) 119/16 : When þu seyst the leyte fle out of þe pot anoon squatte down the lyde and hold down þe late.
Note: Glossary: "squatte v. imp. 'fix in place, batten down'."
Note: New sense.