huddle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To crowd closely together, often for warmth or safety.

   The children huddled together under one blanket.

2. 2
   verb

   To curl up tightly with your arms and legs drawn in.

   He huddled in the corner, shivering with cold.

3. 3
   verb

   To gather in a small group to talk something over privately.

   The managers huddled to decide their next move.

4. 4
   noun

   A small group of people standing close together.

   A huddle of reporters waited outside the courtroom.

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”).

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