‖n. [ F., fr. accoucher to be delivered of a child, to aid in delivery, OF. acouchier orig. to lay down, put to bed, go to bed; L. ad + collocare to lay, put, place. See Collate. ] Delivery in childbed [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. accoucher. See Accouchement. ] A man who assists women in childbirth; a man midwife; an obstetrician. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F.., fem. of accoucher. ] A midwife. [ Recent ] Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. acouchi, from the native name Guiana. ] (Zool.) A small species of agouti (Dasyprocta acouchy). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Avouched (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Avouching. ] [ OF. avochier, LL. advocare to recognize the existence of a thing, to advocate, fr. L. advocare to call to; ad + vocare to call. Cf. Avow to declare, Advocate, and see Vouch, v. t. ] 1. To appeal to; to cite or claim as authority. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They avouch many successions of authorities. Coke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To maintain a just or true; to vouch for. [ 1913 Webster ]

We might be disposed to question its authenticity, it if were not avouched by the full evidence. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To declare or assert positively and as matter of fact; to affirm openly. [ 1913 Webster ]

If this which he avouches does appear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such antiquities could have been avouched for the Irish. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To acknowledge deliberately; to admit; to confess; to sanction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. Deut. xxvi. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Evidence; declaration. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being avouched. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who avouches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of avouching; positive declaration. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ G. barutsche, It. baroccio, biroccio, LL. barrotium, fr. L. birotus two-wheeled; bi- = bis twice + rota wheel. ] A four-wheeled carriage, with a falling top, a seat on the outside for the driver, and two double seats on the inside arranged so that the sitters on the front seat face those on the back seat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of light barouche. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ pl. Bonnes bouches [ F. bon, fem. bonne, good + bouche mouth. ] A delicious morsel or mouthful; a tidbit. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ F. bouche mouth, victuals. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A mouth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An allowance of meat and drink for the tables of inferior officers or servants in a nobleman's palace or at court. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. Same as Bush, to line. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] Same as Bush, a lining. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ F., morsels, mouthfuls, fr. bouche mouth. ] (Cookery) Small patties. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ After Dr. Auguste Boucherie, a French chemist, who invented the process. ] To impregnate with a preservative solution of copper sulphate, as timber, railroad ties, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. & v. t. Same as Capoch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cartouches [ F. cartouche, It. cartuccia, cartoccio, cornet, cartouch, fr. L. charta paper. See 1st Card, and cf. Cartridge. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Mil.) (a) A roll or case of paper, etc., holding a charge for a firearm; a cartridge. (b) A cartridge box. (c) A wooden case filled with balls, to be shot from a cannon. (d) A gunner's bag for ammunition. (e) A military pass for a soldier on furlough. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) A cantalever, console, corbel, or modillion, which has the form of a scroll of paper. (b) A tablet for ornament, or for receiving an inscription, formed like a sheet of paper with the edges rolled up; hence, any tablet of ornamental form. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Egyptian Antiq.) An oval figure on monuments, and in papyri, containing the name of a sovereign. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Couched 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To lay upon a bed or other resting place. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where unbruised youth, with unstuffed brain,
Does couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To arrange or dispose as in a bed; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun. [ 1913 Webster ]

The waters couch themselves as may be to the center of this globe, in a spherical convexity. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To lay or deposit in a bed or layer; to bed. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is at this day in use at Gaza, to couch potsherds, or vessels of earth, in their walls. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Paper Making) To transfer (as sheets of partly dried pulp) from the wire cloth mold to a felt blanket, for further drying. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To conceal; to include or involve darkly. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is all this, and more, that lies naturally couched under this allegory. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To arrange; to place; to inlay. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To put into some form of language; to express; to phrase; -- used with in and under. [ 1913 Webster ]

A well-couched invective. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had received a letter from Flora couched in rather cool terms. Blackw. Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Med.) To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a needle; as, to couch a cataract. [ 1913 Webster ]

To couch a spear or
To couch a lance, to lower to the position of attack; to place in rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

He stooped his head, and couched his spear,
And spurred his steed to full career. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

To couch malt, to spread malt on a floor. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To lie down or recline, as on a bed or other place of rest; to repose; to lie. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where souls do couch on flowers, we 'll hand in hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I court moe women, you 'll couch with moe men. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lie down for concealment; to hide; to be concealed; to be included or involved darkly. [ 1913 Webster ]

We 'll couch in the castle ditch, till we see the light of our fairies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The half-hidden, hallf-revealed wonders, that yet couch beneath the words of the Scripture. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

An aged squire
That seemed to couch under his shield three-square. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. couche, OF. colche, culche, fr. colchier. See Couch, v. t. ] 1. A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United States, a lounge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gentle sleep . . . why liest thou with the vile
In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly couch? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in malting; or the floor occupied by the barley; as, couch of malt. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Painting & Gilding) A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of lying down for repose. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., p. pr. of coucher. See Couch, v. t. ] 1. Lying down with head erect; squatting. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

‖a. [ F., p. p. of coucher. See Couch, v. t. ] (Her.) (a) Not erect; inclined; -- said of anything that is usually erect, as an escutcheon. (b) Lying on its side; thus, a chevron couché is one which emerges from one side of the escutcheon and has its apex on the opposite side, or at the fess point. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Her.) Same as Couch&unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. couch&unr_;e a sleeping place from coucher. See Couch, v. t. ] A reception held at the time of going to bed, as by a sovereign or great prince. [ Obs. ] Dryden. The duke's levees and couchees were so crowded that the antechambers were full. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who couches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Paper Manuf.) One who couches paper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Cf. L. collectarius. ] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A factor or agent resident in a country for traffic. Blount. (b) The book in which a corporation or other body registers its particular acts. [ Obs. ] Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) See Quitch grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Med.) The operation of putting down or displacing the opaque lens in cataract. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Embroidering by laying the materials upon the surface of the foundation, instead of drawing them through. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no couch or bed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Her.) Lying down, with their heads in opposite directions; -- said of animals borne in a coat of arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Crouched p. pr. & vb. n. Crouching. ] [ OE. cruchen, crouchen, crouken; cf. E. creep, G. krauchen, kriechen, or E. crook to bend, also crouch to cross. ] 1. To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now crouch like a cur. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe. “A crouching purpose.” Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche, cross. Cf. Crosier, Crook. ] 1. To sign with the cross; to bless. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

She folded her arms across her chest,
And crouched her head upon her breast. Colerige. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Marked with the sign of the cross. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Crouched friar. See Crutched friar, under Crutched. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Debouched p. pr. & vb. n. Debouching. ] [ F. déboucher; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + boucher to stop up, fr. bouche mouth, fr. L. bucca the cheek. Cf. Disembogue. ] To march out from a wood, defile, or other confined spot, into open ground; to issue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Battalions debouching on the plain. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geog.) To issue; -- said of a stream passing from a gorge out into an open valley or a plain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ F. ] A place for exit; an outlet; hence, a market for goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

The débouchés were ordered widened to afford easy egress. The Century. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. dis- + avouch. Cf. Disavow. ] To disavow. [ R. ] Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To discredit; to contradict. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. It. doccia, fr. docciare to flow, pour, fr. an assumed LL. ductiare, fr. L. ducere, ductum, to lead, conduct (water). See Duct. ] 1. A jet or current of water or vapor directed upon some part of the body to benefit it medicinally; a douche bath. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A syringe. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. emboucher to put to the mouth; pref. em- (L. in) + bouche the mouth. Cf. Embouge, Debouch. ] 1. The mouth of a river; also, the mouth of a cannon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) (a) The mouthpiece of a wind instrument. (b) The shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece; as, a flute player has a good embouchure. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Formerly vouched or avowed; affirmed in advance. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] Literally, a fly swallower; hence, once who keeps his mouth open; a boor; a silly and credulous person. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A bad-tempered person.
Syn. -- grump, crank, churl, crosspatch. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. to complain habitually, especially about minor or routine annoyances.
Syn. -- grumble, gripe. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. given to complaining or grumbling; prone to show annoyance at slight provocation; irritable.
Syn. -- crabbed, crabby, cross, fussy, fussbudgety, grumpy, bad-tempered, ill-tempered. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. of questionable taste, decency, or morality; not reputable; as, a louche nightclub; a louche painting.
Syn. -- shady. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

‖n. pl. [ F. ] Goggles intended to rectify strabismus by permitting vision only directly in front. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as mailbag. [ WordNet 1.5 ]