Forms: 4–7 couert(e, 5 couuerte, 6 couvert, 4– covert. [a. OF. covert, later couvert:—L. coopertum, pa. pple. of covrir, couvrir:—L. cooperīre to COVER.]
1. lit. Covered, hidden; roofed overgrown; sheltered. Now rare.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 227. For gladly wolde I … holde me covert alway.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, v. (1890), 22. Blanchardyn … holdynge the couert wayes, because … he shold not be folowed or ouer taken.
1609. Bible (Douay), Ezek. iv. comm., Covert passage about seven foot in height.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Gardens (Arb.), 559. You are … to Plant a Couert Alley, vpon Carpenters Worke … by which you may goe in Shade.
1707. J. Mortimer, Husb. (ed. 2), 242 (J.). The Fox is a Beast also very prejudicial to the Husbandman,… especially … near great Forest-woods and covert places.
1814. Wordsw., Excursion, III. 177. This covert nook reports not of his hand.
1883. Stevenson, Silverado Sq., 40. All is green, solitary, covert.
† b. Fortif. Covert way: = COVERED way.
1591. Garrard, Art Warre, 311. The way which is made in the counterscarpe which is commonly called the covert-way.
1688. J. S., Fortification, 27. The Covert or close way … left above the Moat next the open Field.
1801. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., I. 361. Turning them by the covert way.
† c. transf. and fig.
1713. Steele, Spect., No. 423, ¶ 4. This Covert-way of Courtship.
1774. Fletcher, Hist. Ess., Wks. 1795, IV. 11. The covert way of Pharisaism.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 401. The beaver has a covert way bored under the ice.
2. fig. Concealed, hidden, secret; disguised.
c. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 389. Ȝyf hyt be shewede here apert, Yn ouþer stede hyt ys couert.
a. 1400. Robbery, in Rel. Ant., II. 38. A covert thefte dos he in case.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 50. The couert thoughts and delights of the minde.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 73 b. Condition implyed, or covert and not expressed, which is called a condition in Law.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, I. 187. Wage covert war or open?
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. v. 117. It was a covert attempt on the French side to disguise Catholic emancipation.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ix. 631. The words … were taken as conveying a covert threat.
b. Of looks, glances.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xii. Towards one particular window he directed many covert glances. Ibid. (1865), Mut. Fr., I. xvi. A covert glance at her face.
† 3. Of persons: Not open, close, secretive; sly, deceitful. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 4489. Gog es als mykel at say, als covert, And Magog es noght elles bot als apert.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6152. Religiouse folk ben fulle covert; Seculer folk ben more appert.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxv. 159. This Lewys was not so couert in his werke … but that his vncle had thereof wyttyng.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. v. 33. He was the couertst sheltred Traytor That euer liu’d.
1673. S. C., Art of Complaisance, x. 94. Tiberius, the most crafty, and covert of all men, with all his artifice, could not conceal his designs from the meanest of his Subjects.
b. Of words: Of hidden or obscure meaning or reference. Now rare.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 55. To speke in wordes so coverte.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 542/1. The couert and obscure wordes of … Christ.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 11. Chose rather a kind of middle-way … under covert and indifferent words.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Lit., Wks. (Bohn), II. 103. They have no fancy, and never are surprised into a covert or witty word.
4. Law. Said of a married woman: Under the cover, authority or protection of her husband. See also FEME COVERT, COVERT-BARON.
1483. Act 1 Rich. III., c. 7 § 3. Women covert.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 32 b. If a woman couert with baron shall do homage they shall knele before the lorde.
1536. Act 28 Hen. VIII. (Stat. Irel. 1621), 149. The husband or friend of any woman covert.
1699. Act 10–11 Will. III., c. 14 § 2. Any person … within the age of 21 years, or covert, non compos, imprisoned, or beyond the seas.
1798. Dallas, Amer. Law Rep., II. 202. The instrument of 1790, executed by Margaret Henderson, being then covert.
