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

Usage: 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. Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for sleeping, eating, jumping, and sexual relations.

In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den, sitting room or the lounge. They are sometimes also found in nonresidential settings such as hotels, lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms, and bars.

Materials:
A couch consists of the frame, the padding 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 Chairs can be Shegun, mahogany, MDF(Medium Density Fiber), Veneer, walnut or fruitwoods. Sofa padding is made from foam, down, feathers, fabric or a combination thereof. Sofa coverings are usually made out of soft leather, corduroy or linen fabric coverings.