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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.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Couch )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Couch )〕 Although a couch is used primarily for seating, it may be used for reclining and napping.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Couch )〕 In homes, couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den, sitting room or the lounge. They are also found in hotels, lobbies of commercial offices, waiting rooms, and some bars. The term ''couch'' is used in North America and Australia, whilst the term ''sofa'' is generally used in the United Kingdom. The word originated in Middle English from the Old French noun ''couche'', which derived from the verb meaning "to lie down".〔AMHER, ''couch'': Middle English from Old French ''culche'', ''couche'' > ''couchier'', ''coucher''〕 It originally denoted an item of furniture for lying or sleeping on, somewhat like a chaise longue, but now refers to sofas in general. Other terms which can be synonymous with the above definition are ''settee'', ''chesterfield'', ''divan'', ''davenport'', ''lounge'', and ''canapé''.〔 The word sofa is from Turkish derived from the Arabic word ''suffa'' for "wool", originating in the Aramaic word ''sippa'' for "mat".〔AMHER, ''sofa'': Turkish, from Arabic ''suffa'', from Aramaic ''sippa'', ''sippəta''〕 The word settee comes from the Old English word, "setl", which was used to describe long benches with high backs and arms, but is now generally used to describe upholstered seating.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Chesterfield Sofas )〕 == Types == The most common types of couches are the loveseat, designed for seating two persons, and the sofa, with two or more cushion seats.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Interview with Immodesty Blaize )〕 A sectional sofa, often just referred to as a "sectional", is formed from multiple sections (typically two, three, and four) and usually includes at least two pieces that join at an angle of 90 degrees or slightly greater, used to wrap around walls or other furniture. Other variants include the divan, the fainting couch (backless or partial-backed) and the canapé (an ornamental three-seater). To conserve space, some sofas double as beds in the form of sofa beds, daybeds, or futons. In the United Kingdom, the term "three-piece suite" is often used to describe a furniture set consisting of a sofa with two matching chairs.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Three-piece-suite )〕 Other less specific terms for sets with at least one sofa include "chesterfield suite"〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Chesterfield suite )〕 and "living room suite."〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Living room suite )〕 Also in the UK, the word ''chesterfield'' meant any couch in the 1900s, but now describes a deep buttoned sofa, usually made from leather, with arms and back of the same height.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Chesterfield Sofa )〕 The first leather chesterfield sofa, with its distinctive deep buttoned, quilted leather upholstery and lower seat base, was commissioned by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773).〔 In Canadian English, ''chesterfield'' as equivalent to a couch or sofa〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Chesterfield )〕 is widespread among older Canadians, but the term is quickly vanishing according to one survey done in the Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario in 1992.〔Chambers, J. K. "The Canada-U.S. border as a vanishing isogloss: the evidence of chesterfield". ''Journal of English Linguistics''; 23 (1995): 156–66, excerpt at (chass.utoronto.ca )〕 Northern California is the only place besides Canada where ''chesterfield'' is a synonym for couch or sofa.〔Fadiman, Clifton. ''Any Number Can Play''. 1957.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Couch」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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