Definition of the word crouch over

The phrase "crouch over" originated in the Old English period, around the 11th century, where it was written as "creochan" or "creohan." The Old English root "croug-, croh-" represented the action of bending over or stooping low. The word "over" was added later in Middle English to indicate a position of crouching or hunching over something intently. The word "crouch" itself has been traced back to the Old English "crahan" or "cryran," which meant "to bend the knees." This word likely came from the Proto-Germanic stem "krain" or "krainan," which meant "to bend." Over time, the usage of "crouch" has evolved to include a more specific connotation of nestling or lowering oneself, often in order to hide or evade something, as in the phrase "to crouch in the bushes." The use of "over" in the expression "crouch over" initially signified the position or direction of the person performing the action. It served as a preposition, indicating the location where they would be bending or stooping low. Today, the phrase "crouch over" is commonly used in a variety of contexts, including sports, cooking, and studying, to indicate the act of lowering oneself over something – such as a leap in a basketball game, a pot on the stove, or a textbook for an examination.