Forms: 3 cuuer-en, 3–6 couer(e, 4– cover. Also 4–5 covyr(e, covir, 4–6 kever(e, keuer(e, 5 kouer(e, kyuer(e, cufere, couure, couvre, 6 couour; also 4–5 cure, 6 cour, 8 Sc. coor: see CURE v.2 [a. OF. cuvr-ir, covr-ir, later couvr-ir = Pr. cobrir, cubrir, Sp. cubrir, It. coprire:—L. cooperīre, f. co- = com- intensive + operīre to cover, cover up, conceal. The OF. stressed form cuevre, queuvre, of the pres. sing. gave the English variant kever, kiver, still extensively used in the dialects.]
I. 1. trans. To put or lay something over (an object), with the effect of hiding from view, protecting or enclosing; to overlay, overspread with.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3678 (Cott.). Wit a rugh skin sco hidd his hals And couerd þar-wit his hands als.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9616. Priam a prise towmbe prestly gart make, And the bodyes … buried þerin … Couert hom clanly, closet hom togedur.
14[?]. E. E. Misc. (Warton Club), 68. Kever the rotes aȝene with same erthe.
1582. Hester, Secr. Phiorav., III. xxxiii. 47. Put it into a greate Tubbe, and keeuer it with water.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. viii. 9. Where finding life not yet dislodged quight He much rejoyst, and courd it tenderly.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 197. Cover with dry Straw … your young exposed Evergreens.
1752. C. Stewart, in Scots Mag. (1753), June, 291/2. The people … were covering potatoes.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 410. Cover the whole with a stratum of charcoal.
2. To put a covering of some specified kind on.
The addition or accession of the covering, rather than the condition of the object covered, is the prominent notion.
a. To put a cover or lid upon (a vessel, etc.), or over (its contents); also to overlay (a pie or the like) with paste.
1382. Wyclif, Ex. xxi. 33. If eny man open a cystern … and not couerith it, and oxe or asse fal into it.
c. 1430. Two Cookery-bks., 45. Keuere þin cofyns with þe same past. Ibid., 52. Kyuere hym [þe Lampray] fayre with a lede.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 26. To cover every pot with one cover.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 77. They [coffins] had been at first cover’d with handsome lids.
1853. Soyer, Pantroph., 63. Cover the saucepan for an instant, uncover, and serve.
† b. To put a roof upon or over; to roof. Obs. (but see Cover in, 18).
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. IV. 64. Ich shal keuery ȝoure kirke and ȝoure cloistre maken.
1482. Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, xli. (1527), 42 b. Brent tyle to covere [1387 Trevisa hele] with houses and chirches.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 116. Their houses in the Villages are very small, covered with straw or reed; wherein as well their cattell as themselves, in manner of stables, doe reside.
1642. Perkins, Prof. Bk., x. § 666. To cover the house of another stranger.
1734. Sale, Koran, Prelim. Disc. I. (Chandos), 5. Here lies Mohammed interred in a magnificent building, covered with a cupola.
c. To put a surface layer of something on for ornament or use; to overlay, overspread with.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxi. 94. Þe walles within er couerd with plates of gold and siluer.
1563. Fulke, Meteors (1640), 31. The Sea-Calfe is never hurt with lightning: wherefore the Emperours tents were woont to be covered with their skinnes.
1665. Pepys, Diary, 21 Sept. Most of the house is … covered with lead, and gilded.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 3. 29. Pines and pastures and crags were covered with the freshly-fallen snow.
1872. E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. viii. 132. The roof was covered with wooden shingles.
d. To spread a cloth or the like over the upper surface of (a table); esp. in preparation for a meal, to lay the cloth. Often absol.
1563. Winȝet, Bk. Questions, in Cert. Tractates (1888), I. 84. Quhy couer ȝe ȝour table with a quhyte clayth at ȝour communioun?
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 290. When the houre of Supper was come, and the tables covered.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon (1861), 169. To cover courtly for a king.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. v. 63. Bid them cover the table.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., lxxix. 320. Having caused a table to be covered for us, and on it placed store of excellent good meat and vvell drest.
1877. R. J. More, Under the Balkans, 215. A low stool covered by a handkerchief, on which were placed the religious books.
e. To overspread with something that marks or occupies the whole surface; to strew with.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. xxiv. 7. He shedde it not out vpon erthe, that it may be keuered with dust.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 22. The thorne is sharp kevered with fresshe colours.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., i. § 1. 2. Our bodies covered with nothing but with the stripes of the lashes. Ibid., lxviii. § 2. 276. Covered all over with pearls, and chains.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 829. Gardens, fields and plains Were cover’d with the pest.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ii. 60. Art and literature covered England with great buildings and busy schools.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 58. The whole surface could not be covered with a design.
† f. To cover his feet (a Hebraism): to ease himself. Obs.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxiv. 3. There was a caue, and Saul wente in to couer his fete.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Judg. iii. 24. Surely he doeth his easement [marg. note he couereth his feete]. 1611 ibid., Surely he couereth his feet in his Summer chamber.
3. To clothe (the body); to wrap, wrap up, invest, envelop.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 25465 (Fairf.). Ne palle to couer mi bane.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 116. Cloþ to coveren wiþ our bones.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5530. He was … couert as a capull all the corse ouer.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 125/1. Yu haddest pite of my nakidnesse. For whan I was a cold thou couerdest me.
c. 1511. 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. 28/1. Ledder to kyuer theyr members with.
1611. Bible, Isa. xxxvii. 1. Hee … couered himselfe with sackecloth. Ibid., Ezek. xvi. 10. I couered thee with silke.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, xvii. 90. They cover themselves in the Summer with blankets.
b. fig. and transf.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. cviii[i]. 29. Be thei couered as with a double mantil with ther confusion.
1611. Bible, Ps. cix. 29. Let them couer them selues with their owne confusion, as with a mantle.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 267. Heav’ns all-ruling Sire … with the Majesty of darkness round Covers his Throne.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VI. viii. He stood … covered with confusion.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 19. You … cover yourselves with the renown of a good name.
4. To cover (one’s head): to put on or wear one’s hat or other head-covering; spec. after it has been taken off as a mark of reverence or respect; also to be covered, and absol. to cover.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 27. It es no wyrchipe to Godd for to couer His heuede and leue His body bare.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 207/1. Thy veyl or keuerchief wyth whiche thou kouerst thy hede.
1530. Palsgr., 499/1. Cover your heed.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., V. i. 18. Good eu’n gentle friend. Couer thy head … Nay prethee bee couer’d.
1611. Bible, 1 Cor. xi. 6. If the woman be not couered, let her also bee shorne.
1656. Finett, For. Ambass., 194. Whether he would now, at his leave taking, cover in presence of her Majesty.
1667. Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 412. Here I stood bare, not challenging to be covered.
1800. in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson, VII. p. cxcvii. The Order has the particular privilege of being covered in the King’s presence.
5. Said of the instrument: To lie or be over (an object) so as to hide, protect or enclose it; to serve as a covering to.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9998 (Cott.). Þe colur … Þat cuuers al abute þe wal … es rede.
c. 1340. E. E. Psalter (E.E.T.S.), xliii[i]. 21. Shadew of deþ couered vs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xix. 70. The nyght obscure couereth the landes.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 142. The role yt couereth all is the theologicall vertue, hope.
1611. Bible, Ex. xl. 34. A cloud couered the Tent of the Congregation.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), I. 76. The shell which covers the coco nut.
c. 1820. Shelley, Fugitives, viii. One boat-cloak did cover The loved and the lover.
1823. F. Clissold, Ascent Mt. Blanc, 16. A smooth broad sheet of ice covered the whole of the declivity (which was at an angle of 45°).
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. xxv. 82. Dreary swamps cover what was once the city of Classis.
b. Said of garments and the like.
1401. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 71. The scapelarie also that kevereth the schuldris.
1533. More, Apol., xxii. Wks. 882. Clothes that shal only kever them and not kepe them warme.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 127. He [the Camalleopard] is covered like a fallow Deare.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxii. All that beauty that doth cover thee Is but the seemly raiment of my heart.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, xvii. 88. A cap which … covers part of their shoulders.
c. To extend or abound thickly over the face of; to occupy the entire surface of; to strew, occupy.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 5931 (Trin.). Frogges þat no tonge coude tel … Al þe erþe þei couered so.
1382. Wyclif, Num. xxii. 5. A peple … that couereth the vttermoost of the erthe.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lviii. 201. The feldes were coueryd with deed men.
1611. Bible, Ex. viii. 6. And Aaron stretched out his hand ouer the waters of Egypt, and the frogges came vp, and couered the land of Egypt.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 312. So thick bestrown … lay these, covering the Flood.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. iii. 97. The bands … then covering the upper provinces of Hindustan.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 31. Phœnician and Greek vessels covered the eastern Mediterranean.
† d. To enclose as an envelope. Obs.
1801. in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson, IV. 364. Your Excellency’s letter … covering two letters from Lord Carysfort.
e. fig.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, II. ii. 75. Words are but holy as the deeds they cover.
6. Of a stallion: To copulate with (the mare); rarely of other animals. Also absol. and causally.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 6 § 1. Horses and nagges … to couour mares and felys of very small stature.
1575. Turberv., Venerie, xvii. 45. [The stag] which hath the mastrie … casting himselfe with a full leape vpon the Hynde to couer hir.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 126.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. i. 111. You’le haue your Daughter couer’d with a Barbary horse.
1621–51. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. VI. v. 576. Like that generous Mare … she was contented at last to be covered by an Ass.
1704. Swift, Mech. Operat. Spirit. The Persian Beast acquired his Faculty, by covering a Mare the Day before.
1790. Bewick, Quadrupeds, 5. Eclipse … now covers by subscription forty mares at thirty guineas each.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. 60. A stallion … [which] covers this season at Dringhouses.
1842. H. Stephens, Bk. of Farm (1851), II. 155. Covering her with another horse, or another kind of horse.
1859. Todd, Cycl. Anat., V. 567/1. A bitch which had never been covered.
† b. Of a bird: To sit upon (eggs). Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 145. Egges covered by the Hen.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 128, ¶ 3. Whilst the Hen is covering her Eggs.
7. a. To place a coin, etc., of equal value upon another, as in wagering.
1857. Borrow, Romany Rye (1858), II. xiii. 193. ‘This is slow work,’ said Jack, banging down a guinea on the table; ‘can you cover that, old fellow?’
1862. Trollope, Orley F., II. 166 (Hoppe). I’ll put that [10l. note] in K’s hand, and do you cover it.
Mod. We must do something to help him. I will give a sovereign if you will cover it.
b. To play a card of higher value upon (one already played).
1885. R. A. Proctor, Whist, ii. 34. If a high card is led, and you hold a higher…, it is generally best to cover. Ibid., 35. When King is led, second player, if he holds Ace, puts it on (‘covers,’ is the technical expression).
II. To protect, screen, etc.
8. To shield, protect, shelter. Also fig.
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 595, in O. E. Misc., 135. Þe woke gume þu coveren.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1798 (Gött.). Was nan fra dede þat mith him couer.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxi. 97. A grete target, with whilk þai couer all þaire body.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 90. They brought him into a seller … and so covered him from the people.
1602. Sir R. Boyle, Diary, Ser. II. (1887), I. 41. Tyrrell … to cover his estates he maketh semblance to come to submission.
1678. trans. Gaya’s Arms War, II. 112. Parapet, a casting up of Earth to cover the Defender.
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., v. 120. That he Commanded the Tartars to keep near him to cover his March.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), II. II. ii. 9. Conveyed to his camp by a body of horse, who covered him with their arms and bodies.
1841. Macaulay, in Trevelyan, Life & Lett. (1876), II. ix. 130. Any measure which he chooses to cover with his authority. Ibid. (1855), Hist. Eng., III. 236. Leake … exposed his frigate to cover the merchantmen.
1887. A. B. Ellis, Tshi-speaking Peoples, xvi. 230. The swamp … is … inhabited by a powerful god who covers the approach to the capital.
b. Said also of the material instrument: To serve as a defence, protection or shelter to; spec. a fortress, or its guns, are said to cover the territory within their range. Also fig.; cf. command.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., xli. He keruet of the cantel that couurt the knyȝte.
c. 1449. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 221. Our welevette hatte … keveryd us from mony stormys browne.
1726. Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., I. 75 b. A Port … covered with some high steep hill, that may … serve as a land-mark for the Sailors.
1735. J. Seacome, Hist. Ho. Stanley, 110/2. In, and upon this Castle were Planted many Cannon, as well to Annoy the Besiegers at a Distance, as to Cover the Ships in the Harbour.
1758. Ann. Register, 55. Some woods … which covered their retreat.
1838–43. Arnold, Hist. Rome, II. xxiv. 537. High ground, covered in front by the deep bed of the Anio.
c. Said of a ship’s flag, and papers; of a law, constitution, etc.
1786. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp., I. 180. She was an American Vessel, although covered by British Papers.
1788. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 470. Such a constitution … as will … cover its friends, and make its enemies tremble.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, V. xxxiii. § 7. 484. That the flag should cover the merchandise.
d. To cover a siege, etc.: to protect the besieging army from attack.
1693. Mem. Ct. Teckely, II. 162. The King at last consented to stay and cover the Siege.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), II. 6. The siege went on in form: And the King lay with an Army covering it.
1811. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., VII. 620. By which the operation can be covered if it should be possible to continue it, or the siege can be raised if it should be necessary to raise it.
9. To hide or screen from view; to conceal.
a. Said of the agent. To cover the buckle: see BUCKLE sb. 1 b.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2046 (Gött.). A mantil fra his neck he toke … And him [Noah] þar wid couerid þai.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2408. Nathyng here swa covered and hydde Þat sal noght þan be shewed and kydde.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 129. Gret olyvys … Coverd in levys smale.
1530. Palsgr., 499/2. I covered me behynde yonder hangyng and herde all their counsayle.
1611. Bible, Matt. x. 26. There is nothing couered, that shall not be reueiled.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 697. Lead me to some solitary Place, And cover my Retreat from human Race.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., III. 119. He [the stag] will often cover himself under water, so as to shew nothing but the tip of his nose.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, I. iii. 154. Cover thy face from every living eye.
b. To conceal or screen (actions, facts, qualities, and other immaterial objects).
1382. Wyclif, 2 Esdras iv. 5. Ne couere thou the wickenesse of hem.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 275. Ther may be vnder godelyhede Keuered many a shrewde vice.
1481. Caxton, Godfrey, xliii. 83. He made no semblaunt therof, as he that wel coude couure his courage.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary (1625), A iij b. If … you … finde any thing blame-worthy, cover it I pray you.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 249. With great care they will cover their losses and weaknesse.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), IX. 64. They covered their voyage with the pretext of ransoming prisoners.
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 268. Frank laughed to cover his anxiety.
c. Said also of the instrument.
1601. Bp. W. Barlow, Serm. Paules Crosse, 34. Would to God the same earth … could also cover the sinne.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 1358. By reason of a little mountain that covered them.
1773. Mad. D’Arblay, Early Diary (1889), I. 187. His voice is so sweet, that it wants no instruments to cover it.
a. 1843. Southey, Vis. Maid Orl., 265. That thou shalt wish The earth might cover thee.
10. Of a pickpocket’s confederate: To screen the operations of (a principal).
1819. J. H. Vaux, Mem., I. xii. 140. He only required me and the third man to cover him.
1858. Glasgow Gaz., 13 Nov. (Farmer). I saw Merritt … thrust his hand into the pocket…. Jordan and O’Brien were covering Merritt.
1859. Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 422. He had missed the confederate who usually ‘covered’ him.
b. To shield from legal penalties.
1888. Lancet, 8 Aug., 297/2. He holds in his own name the appointment of a surgeon. He covers himself by employing a qualified assistant … to sign certificates. Ibid., Cover Assistant.—A qualified man ‘covering’ one unqualified at a distance of six or seven miles lays himself open to censure by the Medical Council.
11. To cover (with a gun, pistol, etc.): to present a gun or pistol at (something) so as to have it directly in the line of fire; to aim directly at.
1687. Congreve, Old Bach., I. iv. ’Tis his diversion to set, ’tis mine to cover the partridge.
1830. Chron., in Ann. Reg. (1831), 138/1. He [a duellist] levelled his pistol, and covered Mr. O’Grady for a few seconds.
1888. T. Roosevelt, in Century Mag., XXXVI. 40/1. I covered him with the rifle and made him move off.
12. Mil. To stand in line with from a point of sight or of attention.
1796–7. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1803), 9. That those several leaders may the more accurately and easily cover each other, when the march is in a straight alignement.
1853. Stocqueler, Mil. Encycl., To cover … to stand in such a position in file, that when [a man] looks exactly forward to the neck of the man who leads him, he cannot see the second man from him.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (ed. 9), 155. The subaltern officers see that both the picket and tent pole numbers [i.e., men] cover correctly.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., In the field exercise and drill of troops, one body is said to cover another exactly in rear of it.
13. Cricket. To take up such a position behind (another man) as to be able to stop the balls missed by him.
1840. Nyren, Cricketer’s Guide (ed. 2), 35–6. Long Field to cover the Middle Wicket and Point … must learn to judge the direction in which the batter … will strike the ball, and … he should be off to meet, or cover it.
1850. ‘Bat,’ Cricketer’s Manual, 44. The long-slip is placed to cover the short-slip.
1870. Blaine, Encycl. Rur. Sports, § 456. A man to cover the middle-wicket and the point, stands on the off-side of the striker. It is his duty to save those balls that either of the above may have missed.
III. To extend or stretch over, to pass over.
14. To be extensive enough to include or comprehend; to include within its application or scope; to provide for.
1793. Burke, Cond. Minority, Wks. 1842, I. 618. Mr. Fox’s general principle fully covered all this.
1885. Sir N. Lindley, in Law Times Rep., LII. 319/2. The words are sufficiently wide to cover them.
1891. Law Times, XCII. 104/2. In cases which are not covered by the statutory provisions of the Divorce Acts.
b. To include, comprise, extend over.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, iii. (1870), 90. The name may be one covering some of the allied contingents.
1885. Manch. Exam., 12 Aug., 5/2. The sixteenth annual report … which covers the year 1884.
15. To extend over, be co-extensive with, occupy, comprise: a. a space; also fig.
1874. Green, Short Hist., v. 215. His [Chaucer’s] tales cover the whole field of mediæval poetry.
1879. Sala, in Daily Tel., 21 July, 5/6. Meux’s brewery covers nearly four acres of ground.
1887. C. C. Abbott, Waste-Land Wand., vi. 160. This [remark] covers the ground completely.
b. a period of time.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. xviii. 334. The life … of Samuel covers the whole of this period of perplexity and doubt.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ix. 602. The long life of Hobbes covers a memorable space in our history.
c. In other fig. uses, in which it is sometimes combined with other senses. Cf. to overtake.
1883. Manch. Exam., 6 Nov., 5/4. The work … was found to be more than its existing staff at the ports could cover.
1890. Times (weekly ed.), 28 Feb., 1/2. The … Loan has been covered many times over by subscriptions.
16. To pass over (ground); to get over, complete or traverse (a given distance).
1818. ‘W. H. Scott,’ Brit. Field Sports, 510. Other racers … loiter on the ground … losing time while they cover space.
1869. E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3), 269. In the same Kaffir war … 1000 miles were covered in seventy-one days.
1881. Daily Tel., 1 April, 7/4. Wanted, by manufacturer … Part Services of a Gentleman covering Beds, Berks, Bucks, Herts, and Oxon.
1891. Field, 28 Nov., 832/2. The distance covered was close on twenty miles.
17. To be sufficient to defray (a charge, or expense), or to meet (a liability or risk of loss); to counterbalance or compensate (a loss or risk) so as to do away with its incidence; to be or make an adequate provision against (a liability); to protect by insurance or the like.
1828. Scott, Jrnl. (1890), II. 147. This iss snug enough, and will prettily cover [the expense of] my London journey.
1866. Crump, Banking, v. 132. A promissory note received from a customer and his surety to cover a running balance.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 119. A small charge … to cover the trouble and risk.
1884. Sir C. S. C. Bowen, in Law Times Rep., 19 April, 218/1. The bill of sale shall cover the whole 4001.
1885. Manch. Exam., 15 May, 5/7. An obvious saving in time and labour which must go a long way to cover their original cost.
b. absol. To provide cover; to meet the liability incurred in a speculative sale; to insure oneself.
1882. Manch. Guard., 18 Oct., 4/3. The avowed expectation on the part of producers that they will be able to ‘cover’ later on to better advantage.
1884. St. James’s Gaz., 15 March, 3/2. He can always ‘cover’ in Havre or Paris or Hamburg, where … much English business is already done.
c. To cover short sales, or ‘shorts’ (Stock Exch.): to buy in such stocks as have been sold short (i.e., without being actually held by the seller), in order to meet his engagements on the day of delivery, or to protect himself against loss.
1878. Fables from N. Y. World, 14. Who had realized at the turn of the market, and was now trying to cover his shorts.
1892. Times, 23 Aug., 3/1. The closing was strong, Reading advancing to 30, on covering by the ‘shorts.’
d. To cover into the Treasury (U.S.): to cover or write off the balance in a balance-sheet by a transfer of the amount into the Treasury; hence, to pay into the Treasury.
1884. R. Wheatley, in Harper’s Mag., June, 53/2. The bribe was ‘covered into the Treasury.’
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 Dec., 7/2. No heirs appeared, and the money was covered in time into the State treasury.
1892. Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 7 Jan. The work was done for $1900 less than the appropriation, and that amount was covered into the State Treasury.
IV. With adverbs.
18. Cover in. To complete the covering of (anything) by adding the upper layer or part; to add the roof to a building; to fill in the earth in a grave or excavation. (Also said of the roof, etc.)
1726. Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., I. 57 a. Various methods of covering in a Building.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy (1885), V. iv. 318. The gilded dome which covers in the fabric.
1819. Shelley, Julian & Maddalo, 316. Would the dust Were covered in upon my body now!
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. v. 50. The little knoll which we cleared away to cover in our storehouse of valuables.
Mod. The house is fairly dry; it was covered in before the winter.
19. Cover over. To cover the whole surface of, cover completely, overlay; to cover with anything that overhangs.
1530. Palsgr., 499/2. Saynt Thomas shrine is covered over with golde.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 77. Vnder a rock arched, with trees thick couered ouer.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. i. 104. The Deske That’s couer’d o’re with Turkish Tapistrie.
a. 1776. Lass of Lochroyan, v. in Child, Ball., III. lxxvi. A bonny ship … a’ cored o’er with pearl.
20. Cover up. To wrap up so as to conceal; to cover over.
1872. E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. viii. 131. The idea of covering up any portion of the rich garden loam with buildings.
1881. W. M. Thayer, Log-Cabin to White Ho., iv. 68. Often … feeling cold after having kicked off the bedclothes, he would say in his sleep,—
‘Tom, cover me up.’
