Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COUCH'ANT, a. [Fr. See Couch.]

Lying down; squatting. In heraldry, lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the posture of couchant from that of dormant, or sleeping; applied to a lion or other beast. – Encyc. Levant and couchant, in law, rising up and lying down; applied to beasts, and indicating that they have been long enough on land to lie down and rise up to feed, or one night at least. – Blackstone.