'squatter' originates from English, specifically formed from the verb 'squat' + the agent suffix '-er' (meaning 'one who does').

'squatter' developed from the verb 'squat' (late Middle English) with '-er' to form an agent noun; in the 19th century the term became common in colonial contexts (especially Australia) to refer to people occupying land, and later broadened to mean those occupying property without legal right.

Initially it referred simply to 'one who squats' (crouches or settles informally), but over time it came to mean specifically 'a person who occupies property or land without legal permission'; in some historical contexts (e.g., Australia) it also referred to early settlers occupying large tracts of land.