Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Couchant"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Couchant \Couch"ant\ (kouch"ant), a. [F., p. pr. of coucher. See
{Couch}, v. t.]
1. Lying down with head erect; squatting.
2. (Her.) Lying down with the head raised, which
distinguishes the posture of couchant from that of
dormant, or sleeping; -- said of a lion or other beast.
{Couchant and levant} (Law), 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. --Blackstone.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
couchant
adj : (heraldry) lying on the stomach with head raised with legs
pointed forward [syn: {couchant(ip)}]
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