Part 2477

<i>Mortimer.</i>

<h1>Couch</h1> <Xpage=330>

<hw>Couch</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To lie down or recline, as on a bed or other place of rest; to repose; to lie.</def>

<blockquote>Where souls do <b>couch</b> on flowers, we 'll hand in hand. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>If I court moe women, you 'll <b>couch</b> with moe men. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To lie down for concealment; to hide; to be concealed; to be included or involved darkly.</def>

<blockquote>We 'll <b>couch</b> in the castle ditch, till we see the light of our fairies. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The half-hidden, hallf-revealed wonders, that yet <b>couch</b> beneath the words of the Scripture. <i>I. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>An aged squire That seemed to <b>couch</b> under his shield three-square. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Couch</h1> <Xpage=330>

<hw>Couch</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>couche</ets>, OF. <ets>colche</ets>, <ets>culche</ets>, fr. <ets>colchier</ets>. See <er>Couch</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt> ]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United States, a lounge.</def>

<blockquote>Gentle sleep . . . why liest thou with the vile In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly <b>couch</b>? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Like one that wraps the drapery of his <b>couch</b> About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. <i>Bryant.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in malting; or the floor occupied by the barley; <as>as, <ex>couch</ex> of malt</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Painting & Gilding)</fld> <def>A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc.</def>

<h1>Couchancy</h1> <Xpage=330>

<hw>Couch"an*cy</hw> <tt>(kouch"<it>a</it>n-s?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>State of lying down for repose.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Couchant</h1> <Xpage=330>

<hw>Couch"ant</hw> <tt>(kouch"<it>a</it>nt)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F., p. pr. of <ets>coucher</ets>. See <er>Couch</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Lying down with head erect; squatting.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>Lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the posture of <i>couchant</i> from that of <i>dormant</i>, or sleeping; -- said of a lion or other beast.</def>

<cs><col>Couchant and levant</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>rising up and lying down; -- said of beasts, and indicating that they have been long enough on land, not belonging to their owner, to lie down and rise up to feed, -- such time being held to include a day and night at the least.</cd></cs>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<h1>Couch\'82</h1> <Xpage=330>

<hw>Cou`ch\'82"</hw> <tt>(k??`sh?")</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F., p. p. of <ets>coucher</ets>. See <er>Couch</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt> ]</ety> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>Not erect; inclined; -- said of anything that is usually erect, as an escutcheon.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Lying on its side; thus, a chevron <i>couch\'82</i> is one which emerges from one side of the escutcheon and has its apex on the opposite side, or at the fess point.</def>

<h1>Couched</h1> <Xpage=330>

<hw>Couched</hw> <tt>(koucht)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>Same as <er>Couch<?/</er>.</def>