| 释义 |
couchant, a.|ˈkaʊtʃənt|
[a. F. couchant, pr. pple. of coucher to lie, couch.]
1. Lying down; couching: esp. of an animal: see couch v. 16 b. (Often with allusion to the heraldic use.)
1496–7[see b]. 1601Holland Pliny (1634) I. 219 This dog..lay still couchant and neuer stirred nor made at them. 1670–98R. Lassels Voy. Italy II. 48 The tomb of this..saint with her statue in a couchant posture. 1720Welton Suffer. Son of God II. xv. 400 He beheld these Savage Creatures..Couchant at His Feet. 1807Wordsw. White Doe i. 203 The milk-white Doe..Couchant beside that lonely mound. 1882H. C. Merivale Faucit of B. II. ii. iii. 172 Frisco, who had been couchant regardant, contributed another low growl to the dialogue.
b. couchant and levant: lying down and rising up; said of cattle in permanent or quasi-permanent occupation of pasture; more commonly levant and couchant, q.v.
1496–7Act 12 Hen. VII, c. 13 §10 Where the same quycke catell ys couchant and levaunt.
2. Her. Of an animal: Represented as lying with the body resting on the legs and (according to most authors) the head lifted up, or at least not sunk in sleep (dormant).
c1500Sc. Poem Heraldry 129 in Q. Eliz. Acad., etc. 98, xv maneris of lionys in armys..the v. seand; vj mordand; vij cuchand. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. ii. 25 His crest was covered with a couchant Hownd. 1634Peacham Gentl. Exerc. iii. 157 Couchant [is] couching or lying downe close with his head betweene his legges like a Dog. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. x. 248 If a Lyon were the proper coat of Judah, yet were it not probably a Lyon Rampant..but rather couchant or dormant. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 467 At the foot of the stairs..are two large lions couchant of white marble. 1766Porny Heraldry Gloss., Couchant..expressing the posture of any Animal that is lying on his belly, but with his head lifted up. 1864Boutell Heraldry, Hist. & Pop. x. 59 When in the attitude of taking repose, the Lion is Couchant, or Dormant.
fig.1641J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 193 That [Religion] which is more calme..lesse rampant, and more couchant. 1859Tennyson Idylls, Guinevere 11 Sir Modred..ever like a subtle beast, Lay couchant with his eyes upon the throne, Ready to spring.
†3. Bending down, crouching. Obs. rare.
1706De Foe Jure Div. Introd. 3 A constant Bondage bows his Couchant Neck. Ibid. iii. 7 Kings were the General Farmers of the Land, Mankind the Cattle..Meer Beasts of Burthen, Couchant and Supprest.
fig.1693Dryden Juvenal xi. (R.), When couchant vice all pale and trembling lay!
†4. Lodging, dwelling. Obs.
1602Withals Dict. (1608) 77 The place, manor house, or Farme..where this Officer is couchant & abiding.
†5. Lying hidden, lurking (lit. and fig.). Obs.
1642Annot. Cert. Quæries 1 Your manner of expression hath couchant a pernitious insinuation. 1720Welton Suffer. Son of God I. viii. 160 The Divine Majesty, Couchant under the Weakness of a tender Infant. |