when was the word couch first used

[AbelDella]

Based on the provided etymological information, the word "couch" entered the English language in two forms at different times during the Middle Ages.

The verb "to couch" appeared first, around the year 1300. It originated from the Old French word "couchier," which meant "to lay down" or "to go to bed." This verb itself is derived from the Latin word "collocare," meaning "to lay, place, or arrange."

The noun form of "couch," referring to an object, was first used in the mid-14th century. At that time, it meant "a bed" or "lair," drawing from the Old French "couche." By the mid-15th century, the meaning had evolved to describe "a long seat upon which one rests at full length," which is much closer to its modern definition.