huddle
/ˈhʌdəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.08 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A small group of individuals in very close proximity to one another.
noun
A small group of individuals in very close proximity to one another.
noun
A small group of individuals in very close proximity to one another.
noun
A hesitation during play to think about one's next move.
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.
Intransitive verb
verb
To get together and discuss a topic.
Example Sentences
- "It’s about as riveting as listening to a huddle of ents discuss the finer points of deciduous shedding."
- "The post-PMQs huddle takes place just outside the press gallery, and all the journalists swarm first around the Prime Minister's press team[…]"
- "The sheep huddled together seeking warmth."
- "During all these operations the apes who had entered sat huddled near the door watching their chief, while those outside strained and crowded to catch a glimpse of what transpired within."
- "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."
- "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."
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”).