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"The Roman people reclined at their meals. On each couch there were commonly three persons. They lay with the upper part of the body reclined on the left arm, the head a little raised, the back supported by cushions and the limbs stretched out at full length, or a little bent; the feet of the first behind the back of the second, and his feet behind the back of the third, with a pillow between each. When they ate, they raised themselves on their elbow, and made use of the right hand. A banqueting-room generally contained three couches, holding nine guests, and, from the number of couches, was called <em>riclinium</em>. The following representation of such a room is from one at Pomopeii. In the centre is a pedestal to receive the table." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Banqueting room

"The Roman people reclined at their meals. On each couch there were commonly three persons. They lay…

The Greek bedstead had a vase painting and served partly as bed, and partly as couch.

Greek Bedstead

The Greek bedstead had a vase painting and served partly as bed, and partly as couch.

Leader of the "Oklahoma Boomers," Couch and his group explored the west and Native American territory.

Captain W. L. Couch

Leader of the "Oklahoma Boomers," Couch and his group explored the west and Native American territory.

"The Egyptian couches were executed in great taste. They were of wood, with one end raised, and receding in a graceful curve; the feet, like those of many of the chairs were fashioned to resemble those of animals." — Goodrich, 1844

Egyptian Couch

"The Egyptian couches were executed in great taste. They were of wood, with one end raised, and receding…

A luxurious couch used during the era of the Roman Empire.

Semicircular Dining Couch

A luxurious couch used during the era of the Roman Empire.

This cashmere covering is used for a couch. The design is stitched over a light blue silk color, which gives it a delicate tone.

Cashmere Covering

This cashmere covering is used for a couch. The design is stitched over a light blue silk color, which…

"So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen." Esther 7:1 ASV <p>King Xerxes and Esther sit on a couch together. Xerxes holds his royal scepter.

Esther Hosts a Banquet for King Xerxes and Haman

"So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen." Esther 7:1 ASV King Xerxes and Esther…

"Lectica was a kind of couch or litter, in which persons, in a lying position, were carried from one place to another. They were used for carrying the dead as well as the living. The Greek lectica consisted of a bed or mattress, and a pillow to support the head, placed upon a kind of bedstead or couch. It had a roof, consisting of the skin of an ox, extending over the couch and resting on four posts. The sides of this lectica were covered with curtains. In the republican period it appears to have been chiefly used by women, and by men only when they were in ill health. When this kind of lectica was introduced among the Romans, it was chiefly used in traveling, and very seldom in Rome itself. But towards the end of the republic, and under the empire, it was commonly used in the city, and was fitted up in the most splendid manner. Instead of curtains, it was frequently closed on the sides with windows made of transparent stone, and was provided with a pillow and bed. when standing, it rested on four feet, generally made of wood. Persons were carried in a lectica by slaves, by means of poles attached to it, but not fixed, so that they might easily be taken off when necessary. The number of lecticarri employed in carrying one lectica varied according to its size, and the display of wealth which a person might wish to make. The ordinary number was probably two; but it varied from two to eight, and the lectica is called hexaphoron or octophoron, according as it was carried by six or eight persons. The following woodcut represents a lectica. It is taken from the tombstone of M. Antonius Antius." &mdash; Smith, 1873

Lectica

"Lectica was a kind of couch or litter, in which persons, in a lying position, were carried from one…

"The litter consists of an ordinary couch with four posts and a pair of posts. Curtains fastened to the rod above the canopy shielded the occupant from observation."&mdash;Webster, 1913

A Roman Litter

"The litter consists of an ordinary couch with four posts and a pair of posts. Curtains fastened to…

The Modern Couch is unsymmetrical with a strong head.

Modern Couch

The Modern Couch is unsymmetrical with a strong head.

A couch or "Darby and Joan seat, a settee having two chair-like backs, for two persons." -Whitney, 1911

Settee

A couch or "Darby and Joan seat, a settee having two chair-like backs, for two persons." -Whitney, 1911

A couch is a generic term in North America and Australia, for an item of furniture designed to seat more than one person. Typically it will have an armrest on either side. Couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den or the lounge. They are covered in a variety of textiles or in leather.

Front View of a Settee

A couch is a generic term in North America and Australia, for an item of furniture designed to seat…

The most common types of couches are the loveseat and the settee or sofa.

Side View of a Settee

The most common types of couches are the loveseat and the settee or sofa.

A style of couch designed by Thomas Sheraton, an English furniture designer.

Sheraton Couch

A style of couch designed by Thomas Sheraton, an English furniture designer.

"A seat or bench of a particular form. A sofa; especially a sofa of peculiar pattern, as a short one for two persons only, or one having two or three chairbacks instead of a continuous back...A small part taken off from a long and large sofa by a kind of arm: thus, a long sofa may have a settee at each end partly cut off from the body of the piece." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p> This illustration is of an 18th century sofa.

Sofa with Two Settees

"A seat or bench of a particular form. A sofa; especially a sofa of peculiar pattern, as a short one…

A young woman lounging on a couch next to a table, with another woman looking at her.

Young Woman Lounging on Couch

A young woman lounging on a couch next to a table, with another woman looking at her.