Couch
A
couch or
sofa is a piece of furniture for seating two or more people in the form of a bench, with or without armrests, that is partially or entirely upholstered, and often fitted with springs and tailored cushions. Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for reclining and napping. In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den, sitting room or the lounge. They are also found in hotels, lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms, furniture stores, etc. The term
couch is used in North America, Australia, New Zealand, whilst the term
sofa is generally used in the United Kingdom. The word originated in Middle English from the Old French noun
couche, which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down". It originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on, somewhat like a chaise longue, but now refers to sofas in general. Other terms synonymous with the above definition are
settee,
chesterfield,
divan,
davenport, and
canapé.