v. Obs. Also 7 couvie, -y. [Var. of prec., perh. affected by the cognate sb. couvie, COVEY, F. couvée.] intr. = prec.
1598. Florio, Accouare, to hatch, to lie close as a hen ouer hir chickens, to squat, to couie.
1601. Holland, Pliny, X. liii. Doves lay and couvey ten times in the yeere. Ibid. (1634), I. 241. They [tortoises] couvie a whole yeare before they hatch. Ibid., 318. Bees couvy and sit as hens do.
