Legal Definitions - couchant and levant

Definition: Couchant and levant (pronounced kow-chuhnt / lev-uhnt) is an adjective used to describe a heraldic animal that is lying down with its head raised and looking towards the left (couchant) and towards the right (levant).

Example: The coat of arms of the city of London features two lions couchant and levant.

Explanation: The lions on the coat of arms are depicted lying down with their heads raised, one looking towards the left and the other towards the right. This is an example of the use of the term couchant and levant in heraldry.