huddle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a disorganized and densely packed crowd

   a huddle of frightened women

2. 2
   verb

   crowd or draw together

   let's huddle together--it's cold!

3. 3
   verb

   crouch or curl up

   They huddled outside in the rain

4. 4
   noun

   A small group of individuals in very close proximity to one another.

   It’s about as riveting as listening to a huddle of ents discuss the finer points of deciduous shedding.

5. 5
   verb

   To crowd together.

   The sheep huddled together seeking warmth.

6. 6
   verb

   To curl one's legs up to the chest and keep one's arms close to the torso; to crouch; to assume a position similar to that of an embryo in the womb.

   Just south of Wamphray station they overtook the runaway. The dim figure of Mitchell could be seen sitting huddled behind the stormboard. They shouted and whistled. He paid no attention.

7. 7
   verb

   To get together and discuss a topic.

   George Hirsch, chairman of the board of Road Runners, said officials huddled all day Friday, hoping to devise an alternate race. They considered replacing the marathon with a race that would comprise the final 10 miles of marathon, starting at the base of the Queensboro 59th Street Bridge on the Manhattan side. But that was not deemed plausible, Mr. Hirsch said.

8. 8
   verb

   To crowd (things) together; to mingle confusedly; to assemble without order or system.

   Our adversary, huddling several suppositions together,[…]makes a medley and confusion.

Etymology

From Middle English *hudelen, alteration (due to hudels, hidels (“hiding place”), see hiddle) of *huderen, hoderen (“to cover; press together; huddle”), a frequentative form of Middle English huden, hiden (“to hide”), equivalent to hide + -le and/or hide + -er. Compare Low German huderken (“to brood; coddle; nurse; lull children to sleep”).