Forms: 4–5 cou-, coverlite, -lyt(e, -lyth, cowyrlythe, keuerlit, -lyte, keweferlyte, kever-, koverlet, 5–6 couerlet(t(e, 6 couerlyght, couverlet, keuerlette, 6–7 coverlett, 5– coverlet. [The early form coverlite appears to represent an OF. *covre-lit (f. covrir to cover + lit bed). Examples of coverlit, coverlet occur in 14th c. Anglo-Fr.; but these may be from English. (Mod.F. couvre-lit is a neologism, suggested perhaps in part by Eng. coverlet.) The variants in -let, -light, -led, -lid (see next), etc., show that at an early date the composition of the word was unknown.]
1. The uppermost covering of a bed; a counterpane, quilt.
[1381. Will of C’tess of March, in Nichols, Royal Wills (1780), 100. Un coverlet de worstede, pur mesme le lit, un couertour de bleu [etc.].
1399. Will of C’tess of Gloucester, ibid. 180–1. Item, un lit … ove … testers, coverlitz, curtyns, & tapitz, qe a eux appertient.]
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11239 (Gött.). Was þar no pride [of] couerlite [v.r. couerled] chamber curtin ne tapite.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Kings viii. 15. He toke an coverlyte … and spradde upon his face.
1395. E. E. Wills (1882), 4. A keuerlet of red sendel ypouthered with Cheuerons.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xl. 160 (Harl. MS.). Bitwene hir shete and hir couerlyte of hir bede.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, III. (1570), B vj/2. All the cloathes and couerlet.
1522. Bury Wills, 116. A couerlyght with fflowre delyce.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., V. (1682), 200. Neither have they any bed-cloths, save only a coverlet above them.
1766. Pennant, Zool., Eider Duck, It’s remarkably light, elastic, warm qualities, make it [eider down] highly esteemed, as a stuffing for coverlets.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, xx. 405. A present of a quilted coverlet.
2. transf. A covering of any kind: a cover.
1551. Bible, 2 Sam. xvii. 19. The wyfe toke and spread a couerlet [Coverdale, couerynge; so 1611] on the top of the well and strawed thereon … barley.
1665. G. Havers, P. della Valle’s Trav. E. Ind., 90. The Nets, are cover’d for avoiding the Rain with dry Coverlets made of Palm leaves.
1718. Pope, Iliad, V. 246. Ten polish’d chariots … veil’d in spacious coverlets.
1744. Mitchell, in Phil. Trans., XLIII. 104. Perhaps the inner Epidermis itself may appear thro’ its outer porous Coverlet.
1825. Beverley Lighting Act, ii. 20. Any blind, shade, coverlet or awning … before any shop.
b. fig. (from 1 and 2.)
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. xxxiv. 57. Gold is the only Coverlet of imperfections.
1687. Congreve, Old Bach., IV. i. Under the coverlet of religion.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 7. 50. Over the slopes of the Col du Géant was spread a coverlet of shining snow.
3. Comb., as coverlet-maker.
1848. W. H. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., II. 273. The Sieur Veron, coverlet maker.
