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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To couch a spear

Couch \Couch\ (kouch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Couched (koucht); p. pr. & vb. n. Couching.] [F. coucher to lay down, lie down, OF. colchier, fr. L. collocare to lay, put, place; col- + locare to place, fr. locus place. See Locus.]

  1. To lay upon a bed or other resting place.

    Where unbruised youth, with unstuffed brain, Does couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign.
    --Shak.

  2. To arrange or dispose as in a bed; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun.

    The waters couch themselves as may be to the center of this globe, in a spherical convexity.
    --T. Burnet.

  3. To lay or deposit in a bed or layer; to bed.

    It is at this day in use at Gaza, to couch potsherds, or vessels of earth, in their walls.
    --Bacon.

  4. (Paper Making) To transfer (as sheets of partly dried pulp) from the wire cloth mold to a felt blanket, for further drying.

  5. To conceal; to include or involve darkly.

    There is all this, and more, that lies naturally couched under this allegory.
    --L'Estrange.

  6. To arrange; to place; to inlay. [Obs.]
    --Chaucer.

  7. To put into some form of language; to express; to phrase; -- used with in and under.

    A well-couched invective.
    --Milton.

    I had received a letter from Flora couched in rather cool terms.
    --Blackw. Mag.

  8. (Med.) To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a needle; as, to couch a cataract.

    To couch a spear or To couch a lance, to lower to the position of attack; to place in rest.

    He stooped his head, and couched his spear, And spurred his steed to full career.
    --Sir W. Scott.

    To couch malt, to spread malt on a floor.
    --Mortimer.