couchant

Couchant is a heraldic term used to describe a figure, typically an animal, that is lying down on its belly with its head raised. The posture conveys rest and alertness, and the forepaws are often depicted extending forward. In heraldic blazon, couchant is one of several postures used to describe chargers on coats of arms.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from Old French coucher, meaning to lie down. In heraldry, couchant distinguishes a recumbent pose from other postures such as passant (walking), statant (standing), or sejant (sitting). The term is most commonly applied to creatures like lions, leopards, dragons, and other heraldic beasts, though it can be used for other figures appearing in coats of arms.

Variations and orientation: In blazon, couchant figures may be qualified by additional terms to specify the head’s orientation. For example, couchant guardant indicates a lying figure whose head is turned to face the observer. Such combinations allow heralds to describe more specific renditions of a reclining beast.

Usage and significance: Couchant figures appear frequently in heraldic design, often chosen to convey a sense of vigilance even while at rest. The term is primarily encountered in heraldry and vexillology, but it can appear in descriptive discussions of animal postures in related fields.

See also: Heraldic terms for animal postures (passant, statant, sejant, rampant).