haunch

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.

   “But I had no time to pursue these reflections; for the gray horse came to the door, and made me a sign to follow him into the third room where I saw a very comely mare, together with a colt and foal, sitting on their haunches upon mats of straw, not unartfully made, and perfectly neat and clean.”

   “And the rabbit from his path-way Leaped aside, and at a distance Sat erect upon his haunches.”

   “While Heracles, - the thews and cordage of his thighs Straitened and strained beyond the utmost stretch From quivering heel to haunch like sweating hawsers.”

   “The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.”

   “He [Novak Djokovic] dropped to his haunches just inside the baseline as Centre Court rose to acclaim the champion, hugging South African [Kevin] Anderson at the net before skipping over towards his box and celebrating wildly in front of his coaching team and wife Jelena.”

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

   “Now these are the Laws of the Jungle, and many and mighty are they; / But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump is—Obey!”

   “On the rough-hewn oaken table the venison haunch was shared.”

3. A squat vertical support structure.
4. (dialectal)A jerked underhand throw.

verb

1. (transitive)To provide with a haunch or supporting structure.
2. (dialectal, transitive)To throw with an underhand movement.