HAUNCH

haunch

(noun) the loin and leg of a quadruped

haunch

(noun) the hip and buttock and upper thigh in human beings

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

haunch (plural haunches)

(anatomy) 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.

The loin and leg of a quadruped, especially when used as food.

(architecture) A squat vertical support structure.

(dialect) A jerked underhand throw.

Verb

haunch (third-person singular simple present haunches, present participle haunching, simple past and past participle haunched)

(transitive, architecture) To provide with a haunch or supporting structure.

(transitive, dialect) To throw with an underhand movement.

Source: Wiktionary

Haunch, n. Etym: [F. hanche, of German origin; cf. OD. hancke, hencke, and also OHG. ancha; prob. not akin to E. ankle.]

1. The hip; the projecting region of the lateral parts of the pelvis and the hip joint; the hind part.

2. Of meats: The leg and loin taken together; as, a haunch of venison. Haunch bone. See Innominate bone, under Innominate.

– Haunches of an arch (Arch.), the parts on each side of the crown of an arch. (See Crown, n., 11.) Each haunch may be considered as from one half to two thirds of the half arch.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition