竦む

すくむ
to cower
to be cramped

* * *

すくむ【竦む】

crouch; cower [quail, cringe] 《at [before]…》; shrink [flinch] 《at [before, from]…》.

●ヘビを見てすくむ recoil [draw back] at seeing a snake

・足がすくむ feel weak at the knees [weak-kneed].

●ネズミは猫の前へ出るとすくんでしまう. A mouse cowers when it comes out in front of a cat.

・足がすくんで歩けなかった. I found my legs gave way and I could not walk.