毛腰

verb

bend over; stoop; hunch

A regional/dialect term, common in northern Chinese dialects, especially Beijing and surrounding areas. It often implies a quick, sharp bend, sometimes to hide or move under something low. The variant '猫腰' (māo yāo) is also common and considered synonymous, though '猫' is often given the first tone in this word, deviating from its normal pronunciation.