In heraldry, describing an animal in a lying position that faces opposite to another animal in the same position on a shield.
From counter- (opposite) + couchant (lying down). Couchant comes from Old French couchant, from coucher (to lie), from Latin collocare, meaning 'to place or lay.'
Medieval heraldry's countercouchant design created visual balance—two lions lying down facing each other symbolized peace or stalemate, whereas facing away suggested division or separation.
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