Definition

1. Noun:
   • The hip, buttock, and upper thigh of a human being: This refers to the fleshy part of the body where the thigh meets the pelvis.
   • The loin and leg of a four-legged animal, especially as a cut of meat: This refers to the hindquarter section of an animal like a deer or sheep, often used for food.

Usage

• The word "haunch" is primarily used in anatomical, zoological, and culinary contexts.
• When referring to humans, it often describes posture or the general area of the upper leg and hip.
• When referring to animals, it typically describes the meat from the hindquarters.

Examples

• Human context:
  • The athlete massaged his sore haunch after the long run.
  • She sat back on her haunches to get a better view of the lower shelf.
• Animal/culinary context:
  • The recipe calls for a haunch of venison.
  • The lion sank its teeth into the haunch of the wildebeest.

Advanced Usage

• "to sit on one's haunches": To squat down, resting on the balls of the feet with the knees bent and the buttocks near the heels.
  • The gardener sat on his haunches while weeding the flower bed.
• Architectural usage: In architecture, "haunch" can refer to the side of an arch between the crown and the pier. (This is a specialized, less common usage).
  • The stonework on the haunch of the bridge's arch was intricately carved.

Variants and Related Words

• Haunches (plural noun): The common plural form, especially in phrases like "on one's haunches."
• Haunched (adjective): Having haunches of a specified kind (e.g., "powerfully haunched").

Synonyms

• Hindquarter: The back half of a carcass, especially the leg and loin (for animals).
• Hip: The projecting part of the pelvis and upper thigh bone (for humans).
• Ham: The thigh and buttock, especially of a hog prepared for food (culinary).
• Rump: The hind part of an animal's body (less specific than haunch).

Related Phrases

• On one's haunches: In a squatting position.
  • The mechanic was on his haunches, inspecting the underside of the car.
• Haunch of meat: A standard phrase for a joint of meat from the hind leg.
  • They roasted a haunch of mutton for the feast.

Noun

1. the loin and leg of a quadruped
2. the hip and buttock and upper thigh in human beings