Couch (kouch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Couched (koucht); p. pr. & vb. n. Couching.] [F. coucher to lay down, lie down, OF. colchier, fr. L. collocare to lay, put, place; col- + locare to place, fr. locus place. See Locus.]
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1. To lay upon a bed or other resting place.
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Where unbruised youth, with unstuffed brain,
Does couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign. Shak.
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2. To arrange or dispose as in a bed; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun.
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The waters couch themselves as may be to the center of this globe, in a spherical convexity. T. Burnet.
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3. To lay or deposit in a bed or layer; to bed.
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It is at this day in use at Gaza, to couch potsherds, or vessels of earth, in their walls. Bacon.
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4. (Paper Making) To transfer (as sheets of partly dried pulp) from the wire cloth mold to a felt blanket, for further drying.
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5. To conceal; to include or involve darkly.
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There is all this, and more, that lies naturally couched under this allegory. L'Estrange.
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6. To arrange; to place; to inlay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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7. To put into some form of language; to express; to phrase; -- used with in and under.
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A well-couched invective. Milton.
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I had received a letter from Flora couched in rather cool terms. Blackw. Mag.
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8. (Med.) To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a needle; as, to couch a cataract.
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To couch a spear or To couch a lance, to lower to the position of attack; to place in rest.
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He stooped his head, and couched his spear,
And spurred his steed to full career. Sir W. Scott.
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To couch malt, to spread malt on a floor. Mortimer.
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Couch, n. [F. couche, OF. colche, culche, fr. colchier. See Couch, v. t. ] 1. A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United States, a lounge.
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Gentle sleep . . . why liest thou with the vile
In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly couch? Shak.
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Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. Bryant.
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2. Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc.
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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.
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4. (Painting & Gilding) A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc.
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