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Couch

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A couch is a soft piece of furniture for many people.

2009-05-16 Main office lobby at Hampton Forest Apartments
2009-05-16 Main office lobby at Hampton Forest Apartments

It is also called a sofa, a settee, or a davenport. People use them to sit or even to sleep. You can find them in family rooms or lounges at home. They also sit in hotels, office lobbies, and bars.

Wedding Couch
Wedding Couch

These pieces of furniture bring people together in one place.

Making a couch involves several important parts. First, there is a frame made of wood or steel. Some frames use plastic or laminated boards instead. Under the padding, there are often springs for support. The padding can be foam, feathers, or soft down.

Kubus sofa
Kubus sofa

Finally, a soft covering goes over everything. This covering might be made of linen, corduroy, or leather.

Words for couches have very long histories. The word couch comes from an Old French word. That word meant to lie down. The word sofa comes from the Turkish language. It comes from an Arabic word for a bench or ledge.

Loriots Sofa
Loriots Sofa

In the 1700s, a writer named Nathan Bailey described sofas. He said they were like alcoves used in Asia. These alcoves had rich cushions and carpets.

There are many different shapes and sizes of couches. A loveseat is a small version for two people. A sofa usually has more than two seats. A sectional is made of two, three, or four parts. These parts join at an angle to wrap around walls.

Wedding Couch
Wedding Couch

Some people use sofa beds or futons to save space. These special couches can turn into beds for sleeping.

Some couches have very famous names and styles. A chesterfield is a deep sofa made of leather. It has buttons and a back that matches the arms. Philip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, ordered the first one. In Canada, some older people call any couch a chesterfield.

Kubus sofa
Kubus sofa

This name is now vanishing in parts of Ontario. Other styles include the divan or the ornamental canapé.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:2009-05-16 Main office lobby at Hampton Forest Apartments.jpg
2009-05-16 Main office lobby at Hampton...
File:Loriots Sofa.JPG
Loriots Sofa.JPG
File:Wedding Couch.jpg
Wedding Couch.jpg
File:Kubus sofa.jpg
Kubus sofa.jpg
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