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{{Other uses}}
Couches were originally stuffed with fat from witches burned at the stake during the medieval period. The leather did not come from cows at all but, from human skin. The beads that the Indians used to decorate the couch were made from fox bones. You may ask why this is but in reality it never stopped. Couch companies say that the leather and stuffing in their products are actually leather and artificial stuffing but that is not scientifically true. They bombard you with information to try to sell their products. In the cause of the Great Depression, the leather in the couches were snake skin, human hair, spider silk, reused footballs, Nike elites. There were many complaints so the couch companies closed for 1 year until the pigs were reproduced enough to have enough supplies for bacon and leather for couches. Chapstick was used to grease the pigs before slaughter so the knife would be easy to impale. Chick Fil A and Mcdonalds disagreed with this protest. In the year of 1892 a high supply were demanded for obese people. They were really fat. I mean fat! 500 pounds! The fat in these obese people were surgically removed for the purpose for the stuffing of couches. The fat was removed by underpaid McDonald workers. Many people died because of lack of medical experience when they drowned in he obese peoples fat. This spilled out of their guts and on to their new couches. Cemeteries were packed.
{{redirect|Sofa|other uses|Sofa (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Settee|Suttee}}
[[File:2009-05-16 Main office lobby at Hampton Forest Apartments.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A three cushion couch in an office lobby]]

A '''couch''' or '''sofa''' is a piece of [[furniture]] for seating two or more people in the form of a [[bench (furniture)|bench]], with or without [[armrest]]s, that is partially or entirely [[Upholstery|upholstered]], and often fitted with [[spring (device)|springs]] and tailored [[cushion]]s.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/couch| title= Couch| publisher=Dictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)| accessdate=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref name="thefreedictionary">{{cite web| url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/couch| title= Couch| publisher=The Free Dictionary By Farlex| accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref> Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for reclining and napping.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couch| title= Couch| publisher=Merriam-Webster| accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref>

In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, [[living room]], den, sitting room or the [[lounge room|lounge]]. They are also found in hotels, [[lobby (room)|lobbies]] of commercial offices, [[waiting room]]s, 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]] and [[Ireland]]. The word originated in [[Middle English]] from the [[Old French]] noun ''couche'', which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down".<ref>[[AMHER]], ''couch'': Middle English from Old French ''culche, couche'' > ''couchier, coucher''</ref> It originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on, somewhat like a chaise longue, but now refers to sofas in general.{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}}

Other terms synonymous with the above definition are '''''settee''''', '''''chesterfield''''', '''''divan''''', '''''[[davenport (sofa)|davenport]]''''', and '''''[[Canapé (furniture)|canapé]]'''''.<ref name="thefreedictionary" /> The word sofa is from [[Turkish language|Turkish]] derived from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''suffa'' for 'wool', originating in the [[Aramaic]] word ''sippa'' for '[[mat]]'.<ref>[[AMHER]], ''sofa'': Turkish, from Arabic ''suffa'', from Aramaic ''sippa, sippəta''</ref> The word settee comes from the [[Old English]] word, 'setl', which was used to describe long benches with high backs and arms, but is now generally used to describe upholstered seating.<ref name="regency-chesterfield-sofas">{{cite web| url= http://www.regency-chesterfield-sofas.co.uk/content/14-sofa-settee-couch-difference| title= Chesterfield Sofas| publisher=LE-AL Furniture Ltd | accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref>

==Types==
[[File:Loriots Sofa.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Sofa of Loriot]]
The most common types of couches are the [[loveseat]], designed for seating two persons, and the sofa, with two or more cushion seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guM3wHItckE&NR=1|title=Interview with Immodesty Blaize|accessdate=10 September 2010}}</ref> A sectional sofa, often just referred to as a "sectional", is formed from multiple sections (typically two, three, and four) and usually includes at least two pieces that join at an angle of 90 degrees or slightly greater, used to wrap around walls or other furniture.


Other couch variants include the [[divan (furniture)|divan]], the [[fainting couch]] (backless or partial-backed), the canapé (an ornamental three-seater). To conserve space, some sofas double as [[bed (furniture)|bed]]s in the form of sofa-beds, [[daybed]]s, or [[futon]]s.
[[File:Kubus sofa.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Kubus sofa]]In the United Kingdom, a chesterfield is a deep buttoned sofa, with arms and back of the same height. It is usually made from leather and the term ''chesterfield'' in British English is only applied to this type of sofa.<ref name="chesterfieldsofas">{{cite web|url=http://www.chesterfieldsofas.com/the_history_of_the_chesterfield_sofa.html|title=Chesterfield Sofa | publisher=The Traditional English Chesterfield Company | accessdate=2012-05-13}}</ref> The word chesterfield was used to describe a couch in the 1900s. The first leather chesterfield sofa, with its distinctive deep buttoned, quilted leather upholstery and lower seat base, was commissioned by Phillip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773).<ref name="chesterfieldsofas" /> The word Chesterfield may now refer to any sofa, settee or couch with the button and quilting used on this particular sofa design.<ref name="chesterfieldsofas" />

In [[Canada]], the term ''chesterfield'' is equivalent to a couch or sofa.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://dictionary.canadaspace.com/definition/chesterfield/| title= Chesterfield| publisher=Canadaspacedictionary | accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref> The use of the term has been found to be widespread among older Canadians. This term is quickly vanishing from [[Canadian English]] according to one survey done in the [[Golden Horseshoe]] region of [[Ontario]] in 1992.<ref>Chambers, J. K. "The Canada-U.S. border as a vanishing isogloss: the evidence of chesterfield." ''Journal of English Linguistics''; 23 (1995): 156–66, excerpt at [http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~chambers/couch.html chass.utoronto.ca]</ref> [[Northern California]] is the only place besides Canada where ''chesterfield'' is a synonym for couch or sofa.<ref>[[Clifton Fadiman|Fadiman, Clifton]] ''Any Number Can Play'' 1957</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the term "three-piece suite" is often used to describe a furniture set consisting of a sofa with two matching chairs.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/three-piece-suite?q=three-piece+suite| title= Three-piece-suite| publisher=Cambridge Dictionaries Online | accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref> Other less specific terms for sets with at least one sofa include "chesterfield suite"<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/couch| title= Chesterfield suite| publisher=Merriam-Webster|accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref> and "living room suite."<ref>{{cite web| url= http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/living-room-suite?q=living+room+suite| title= Living room suite| publisher=Cambridge Dictionaries Online | accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref>

==Materials==
A couch consists of the frame and the covering. The frame is usually made of wood but can also be made of steel, plastic or laminated boards. The wood used under the upholstery is made from kiln-dried maple wood that is free of knots, bark or defects. The show wood of the legs, arms and back can be maple, mahogany, walnut or fruitwoods. Sofa coverings are usually made out of soft leather, corduroy or linen fabric coverings.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_sofas_usually_made_of| title= What are sofas usually made of?| publisher=Answers| accessdate=2012-05-12}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Red sofa.jpg|A red two-seater [[Upholstery|upholstered]] loveseat
File:Sofa3800ppx.jpg|Three cushion couch
File:Couch Furniture.JPG|A pale taupe couch in a couch shop
File:Canape.JPG|A Portuguese [[rosewood]] caned settee, 19th century
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Bench (furniture)]]
* [[Chair]]
* [[Couch potato]]
* [[Confidante]]
* [[Futon]]
* [[Bean bag]]
* [[List of chairs]]
* [[Ottoman (furniture)]]
* [[Settle (furniture)]], wooden furniture with similar usage
* [[Window seat]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* [[John Gloag]], ''A Short Dictionary of Furniture'' rev. ed. 1962. (London: Allen & Unwin)

== Further reading ==
* {{cite encyclopaedia|ref=harv|encyclopedia=The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts|volume=2|article=sofa|first=Gordon|last=Campbell|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2006|isbn=9780195189483|pages=369}}

== External links ==
{{wiktionary}}
{{Commons category|Couches}}
* [http://www.balashon.com/2006/12/sofa.html Etymology of "sofa"]

[[Category:Upholstery]]
[[Category:Furniture]]
[[Category:Couches|*]]

Revision as of 05:21, 8 March 2014

For other uses, see Couch (disambiguation).
"Sofa" redirects here. For other uses, see Sofa (disambiguation).
"Settee" redirects here. Not to be confused with Suttee.
A three cushion couch in an office lobby

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.[1][2] Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for reclining and napping.[3]

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 and Ireland. The word originated in Middle English from the Old French noun couche, which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down".[4] It originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on, somewhat like a chaise longue, but now refers to sofas in general.[citation needed]

Other terms synonymous with the above definition are settee, chesterfield, divan, davenport, and canapé.[2] The word sofa is from Turkish derived from the Arabic word suffa for 'wool', originating in the Aramaic word sippa for 'mat'.[5] The word settee comes from the Old English word, 'setl', which was used to describe long benches with high backs and arms, but is now generally used to describe upholstered seating.[6]

Types

Sofa of Loriot

The most common types of couches are the loveseat, designed for seating two persons, and the sofa, with two or more cushion seats.[7] A sectional sofa, often just referred to as a "sectional", is formed from multiple sections (typically two, three, and four) and usually includes at least two pieces that join at an angle of 90 degrees or slightly greater, used to wrap around walls or other furniture.


Other couch variants include the divan, the fainting couch (backless or partial-backed), the canapé (an ornamental three-seater). To conserve space, some sofas double as beds in the form of sofa-beds, daybeds, or futons.

A Kubus sofa

In the United Kingdom, a chesterfield is a deep buttoned sofa, with arms and back of the same height. It is usually made from leather and the term chesterfield in British English is only applied to this type of sofa.[8] The word chesterfield was used to describe a couch in the 1900s. The first leather chesterfield sofa, with its distinctive deep buttoned, quilted leather upholstery and lower seat base, was commissioned by Phillip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773).[8] The word Chesterfield may now refer to any sofa, settee or couch with the button and quilting used on this particular sofa design.[8]

In Canada, the term chesterfield is equivalent to a couch or sofa.[9] The use of the term has been found to be widespread among older Canadians. This term is quickly vanishing from Canadian English according to one survey done in the Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario in 1992.[10] Northern California is the only place besides Canada where chesterfield is a synonym for couch or sofa.[11]

In the United Kingdom, the term "three-piece suite" is often used to describe a furniture set consisting of a sofa with two matching chairs.[12] Other less specific terms for sets with at least one sofa include "chesterfield suite"[13] and "living room suite."[14]

Materials

A couch consists of the frame and the covering. The frame is usually made of wood but can also be made of steel, plastic or laminated boards. The wood used under the upholstery is made from kiln-dried maple wood that is free of knots, bark or defects. The show wood of the legs, arms and back can be maple, mahogany, walnut or fruitwoods. Sofa coverings are usually made out of soft leather, corduroy or linen fabric coverings.[15]

  • A red two-seater upholstered loveseat
    A red two-seater upholstered loveseat
  • Three cushion couch
    Three cushion couch
  • A pale taupe couch in a couch shop
    A pale taupe couch in a couch shop
  • A Portuguese rosewood caned settee, 19th century
    A Portuguese rosewood caned settee, 19th century

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Couch". Dictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary). Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  2. ^ a b "Couch". The Free Dictionary By Farlex. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  3. ^ "Couch". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  4. ^ AMHER, couch: Middle English from Old French culche, couche > couchier, coucher
  5. ^ AMHER, sofa: Turkish, from Arabic suffa, from Aramaic sippa, sippəta
  6. ^ "Chesterfield Sofas". LE-AL Furniture Ltd. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  7. ^ "Interview with Immodesty Blaize". Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "Chesterfield Sofa". The Traditional English Chesterfield Company. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  9. ^ "Chesterfield". Canadaspacedictionary. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  10. ^ Chambers, J. K. "The Canada-U.S. border as a vanishing isogloss: the evidence of chesterfield." Journal of English Linguistics; 23 (1995): 156–66, excerpt at chass.utoronto.ca
  11. ^ Fadiman, Clifton Any Number Can Play 1957
  12. ^ "Three-piece-suite". Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  13. ^ "Chesterfield suite". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  14. ^ "Living room suite". Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  15. ^ "What are sofas usually made of?". Answers. Retrieved 2012-05-12.

References

  • John Gloag, A Short Dictionary of Furniture rev. ed. 1962. (London: Allen & Unwin)

Further reading

Look up couch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Couches.
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