What Is A Hunker?

[10ClarionSt]

The Yanks don't "take shelter" anywhere do they? They "hunker down". Where does this ridiculous term come from? What is a hunker? Do you have one in your collection? I went in a few BUNKERS yesterday, which meant the other guys had to "hunker down", out of harms way! Hunker?!!! Eh?!!

[Tilly2]

It's quite an old word.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hunker

[bhg481]

My 1980 Shorter Oxford dictionary defines "hunker" as "squat down", so hardly a new word, just come back into use.

[anneasquith]

" go on your hunkers" kneel/ squash yourself down .

[TWR]

To sit down on your heels.

[Spicerack]

Me-er.

[Tilly2]

Me-er...cat?

[anneasquith]

Hunker in the bunker , makes sense to me .:-)

[Tilly2]

Sorry, should be 'Me-er...kat.'

[Tilly2]

You've gone quiet, 10 Clarion...:-)

[Peter Pedant]

since at least the fifties
I am sure it was used in the pacific war

and yeah the GIs did it and the Tommies didnt

[Peter Pedant]

hmm eighteenth century
from huiken - that is pronounced with the first syllable rhyming with cow rather than boy

dunno how the en crept in

one would expect it to persist in American usage
as English follow the usual rules on mutation
the further away from the centre of a language it mutates more slowly ( and therefore also maintains older forms - gotten springs to mind) - seen also in Quebecois and Texan german

[Peter Pedant]

// You've gone quiet, 10 Clarion...:-)//
he must have . . .. . hunkered down somewhere

[Tilly2]

Hello!

[Tilly2]

Your question, What Is A Hunker?, has been answered.

All's well.