To crouch down low or to settle down firmly in one place, often preparing for something difficult.
Possibly from German 'hocken' or Dutch origins, though the exact source is debated. The word has been used since the 1800s, likely arriving with German immigrants.
When you 'hunker down,' you're mimicking how animals prepare for danger—pulling in your limbs and lowering your center of gravity is actually the safest position for your body!
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