Crowded closely together or bent over in a compact group; the past tense of huddle, meaning to gather closely or form a huddle.
Origin uncertain, possibly from Old English or dialectal sources. The word gained popularity in sports terminology in the late 19th century, especially in American football for strategy meetings.
Football teams huddle to keep plays secret from the opposing team—the word's meaning perfectly describes the physical action that creates that privacy, which is why it was adopted so readily in sports culture!
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