English Explanatory Dictionary

haunch

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The area encompassing the upper thigh, hip and buttocks on one side of a human, primate, or quadruped animal, especially one that can sit on its hindquarters.
  2. The loin and leg of a quadruped, especially when used as food.
  3. A squat vertical support structure.
  4. A jerked underhand throw.
verb
  1. To provide with a haunch or supporting structure.
  2. To throw with an underhand movement.

Pronunciation

/hɔːn(t)ʃ/ hônch hŏ- /hɔn(t)ʃ/ /hɑn(t)ʃ/ en-us-haunch.ogg en-au-haunch.ogg

Word forms

haunch haunches haunce haunse hanch hance hanse haunching haunched

Etymology

From Middle English haunche, hanche, from Old French hanche, hance, anche (compare French hanche, Italian anca), from a Germanic source, probably Frankish *ankijā, from Proto-Germanic *ankijǭ (“joint; ankle”), from Proto-Indo-European *ang- (“joint; lith”). Cognate with Old High German ancha, encha, einka (“the leg; joint, bend”) (compare Old High German anchila, enchila (“ankle”), German Hanke (“haunch”), West Frisian hancke (“haunch”). More at ankle.

Derived words

haunch bone haunch holder haunchless haunchy
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