Couch

Definition of Couch

Pronunciation: kouch
v. t.1.
[imp. & p. p. Couched (koucht); p. pr. & vb. n. Couching.]
1.To lay upon a bed or other resting place.
Where unbruised youth, with unstuffed brain,
Does couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign.
- Shak.
2.To arrange or dispose as in a bed; - sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun.
The waters couch themselves as may be to the center of this globe, in a spherical convexity.
- T. Burnet.
3.To lay or deposit in a bed or layer; to bed.
It is at this day in use at Gaza, to couch potsherds, or vessels of earth, in their walls.
- Bacon.
4.(Paper Making) To transfer (as sheets of partly dried pulp) from the wire cloth mold to a felt blanket, for further drying.
5.To conceal; to include or involve darkly.
There is all this, and more, that lies naturally couched under this allegory.
- L'Estrange.
6.To arrange; to place; to inlay.
7.To put into some form of language; to express; to phrase; - used with in and under.
A well-couched invective.
- Milton.
I had received a letter from Flora couched in rather cool terms.
- Blackw. Mag.
8.(Med.) To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a needle; as, to couch a cataract.
To couch a spear
to lower to the position of attack; to place in rest.
He stooped his head, and couched his spear,
And spurred his steed to full career.
- Sir W. Scott.
To couch malt
to spread malt on a floor.
- Mortimer.
v. i.1.To lie down or recline, as on a bed or other place of rest; to repose; to lie.
Where souls do couch on flowers, we 'll hand in hand.
- Shak.
If I court moe women, you 'll couch with moe men.
- Shak.
2.To lie down for concealment; to hide; to be concealed; to be included or involved darkly.
We 'll couch in the castle ditch, till we see the light of our fairies.
- Shak.
The half-hidden, hallf-revealed wonders, that yet couch beneath the words of the Scripture.
- I. Taylor.
3.To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch.
An aged squire
That seemed to couch under his shield three-square.
- Spenser.
n.1.A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United States, a lounge.
Gentle sleep . . . why liest thou with the vile
In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly couch?
- Shak.
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
- Bryant.
2.Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc.
3.A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in malting; or the floor occupied by the barley; as, couch of malt.
4.(Painting & Gilding) A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc.

Related Words

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