蹲つくばう

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

crouch; squat

Describes lowering the body close to the ground by bending the knees, often in a humble or defensive posture. The word is somewhat literary and less common in everyday speech than しゃがむ.

• 彼かれは門もんの陰かげに蹲つくばって、通とおり過すぎるのを待まった。

  He crouched in the shadow of the gate and waited for them to pass.

• 疲つかれた犬いぬが道みち端ばたに蹲つくばっている。

  A tired dog is squatting by the roadside.