The Collaborative International Dictionary
Couchant \Couch"ant\ (kouch"ant), a. [F., p. pr. of coucher. See Couch, v. t.]
- Lying down with head erect; squatting. 
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(Her.) Lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the posture of couchant from that of dormant, or sleeping; -- said of a lion or other beast. Couchant and levant (Law), rising up and lying down; -- said of beasts, and indicating that they have been long enough on land, not belonging to their owner, to lie down and rise up to feed, -- such time being held to include a day and night at the least. 
 --Blackstone. [1913 Webster] ||
Wiktionary
a. (context legal obsolete English) Rising up and lying down; said of beasts, and indicating that they have been long enough on land, not belonging to their owner, to lie down at night and rise up to feed by day.