hunker down

(verb) sit on one's heels. Synonyms: squat, crouch, scrunch, scrunch up, hunker, hunker down. Examples: "In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting." "The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm."

(verb) take shelter. Synonyms: hunker down. Example: "During the sandstorm, they hunkered down in a small hut."

(verb) hold stubbornly to a position. Synonyms: hunker down. Example: "The wife hunkered down and the husband's resistance began to break down."