Blonde Girl Posing On Sofa

The term 'couch' is used in North America, Australia (most commonly known as a lounge) and New Zealand. Other terms synonymous with the above definition of couch are sofa (derived from the Arabic word suffah), settee, chesterfield and canapé.
Etymology
The traditional meaning of couch is a particular type of sofa with a half back and one raised end. By this definition it more closely resembles a daybed, chaise longue, or indeed a bed. Some couches actually pull out into a makeshift bed. In the UK, where the generic term for the item of living room furniture is usually "sofa" or "settee", the term "couch" retains this specific meaning, for example in a therapeutic setting (e.g. a psychiatrist's couch). A couch is therefore used while lying down, while a sofa or settee is for sitting upright. The word "couch" derives from Old French couche, meaning "bed", and from coucher, meaning "put to bed, lay down".