Definition of crouch:
"the cat waited in a crouch, hidden behind the hedge."
(v) :
to
bend down; to
stoop low; to lie close to the ground with legs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey or in fear; to bend
servilely; to stoop meanly; to
fawn; to
cringe
"we crouched behind the low wall until the squad of soldiers had passed by."