Also 7–8 -chée, 8 -ché; rarely coucher. [a. F. couché, variant of coucher (Littré, Coucher sb. 1) lying down, going to bed (subst. use of coucher inf.: see COUCH v.1]
1. An assembly of company in the evening; an evening reception.
Cf. F. le coucher du roi, or simply le coucher, the reception that preceded the king’s going to bed; petit coucher the interval between this reception and the king’s actual retirement, during which he saw only his household officers or other privileged persons.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, IV. i. 61. I was coming late from White-Hall, After the Kings Couchée.
1679. Crowne, Ambit. Statesman, II. 28.
| Then I’le not fail to make my Court to him | |
| Almost at all his Levyes and his Couchees. |
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), II. 251. The Duke’s levees and couchees were so crouded, that the antichambers were full.
1719. Mem. Lewis XIV., v. 56. At the Queen’s Coucher, where the King was.
1776. Harris, Lett., in Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury (1870), I. 350. I attended the three Couchés last night of the Speaker, Lord Mansfield and the Chancellor.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. ix. Pompous ceremonials … Royal Drawing-rooms, Levees, Couchees.
† 2. An obeisance. Obs.
1691. [De Foe], New Disc. Old Intreague, xxi. Bend with aukward Couchees to the Throne.
