Where does “couching” come from?

Couching derives from Middle English couchynge, formed from the verb couch and the Middle English suffix -ing, which comes from Old English -ing, ultimately based on Latin colloco through the prefix con- and root com.

couching (English): present participle of couch; The act of one who...

Definitions

  1. present participle of couch; The act of one who...

Ancestry of “couching”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcouchyngeThe laying down or installation of tiles; Lying...
2Middle EnglishcoucheA bed; A bedroom; the room where one sleeps in; A...
3Old Frenchcouche
4Old Frenchcouchierto go to bed; to have sex; bedtime
5Latincollocōto place, put, set in order, assign, arrange
6Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt
13Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
14Old High Germankuti
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-Every word from Latin cōn-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet-
couching — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer