haunch

noun

ˈhȯnch How to pronounce haunch (audio)
ˈhänch
1
b
: hindquarter sense 2
usually used in plural
2
3
: either side of an arch between the springing and the crown
Phrases
on one's haunches
: in a squatting position

Examples of haunch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The British automaker, known for two-seat convertibles with a high coolness quotient, serves this vehicle up with scissor doors and rear haunches that convey power. James Brooks and Jamey Keaten, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 Silva lies on Jake's bed, wearing nothing but a henley, as the camera surveys his bare haunches. Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2023 Dazed, the cat clings precariously to the tree fork, his haunches sagging, slowly dragging his body down the trunk. Peter Radetsky, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Couple that core tenet with the more iconic shapes within the Batur’s bodywork, such as the wheel haunches, and a concept began to gel for Ferraresi. Sean Evans, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2023 Within days of eating that haunch, the dinosaur — a juvenile Gorgosaurus that stood 5 and a half feet tall at the hip — ended up dead in a river. Michael Greshko, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023 That experience, for the most part, has been about the need for speed and performance: macho-feeling haunches, power bulges, a prominent front-end grille, hood scoops, and the sleek curves of aerodynamics. Nicole Gull McElroy, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2023 Resolving the folding soft-top mechanism with the tail section must have been a bit of a challenge because the coupe’s C-pillar meets a confluence of design elements, among them the curvature of the rear haunches, the flush mounting of the rear window, and the relatively short overhang of the tail. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2023 By honoring as many ethnic groups as possible in this city of immigrants with a flag-raising in the city’s oldest park — by the haunches of the nation’s most famous bronze bovine — Mr. Adams can woo voters in advance of his 2025 re-election bid. Dana Rubinstein, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'haunch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English haunche, from Anglo-French hanche, haunche, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch hanke haunch

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of haunch was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near haunch

Cite this Entry

“Haunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haunch. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

haunch

noun
ˈhȯnch How to pronounce haunch (audio)
ˈhänch
1
b
: hindquarter sense 2
usually used in plural
2

More from Merriam-Webster on haunch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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