Law. [a. AF. feme covert a woman ‘covered’ (= mod.F. couverte), i.e., under protection.] A woman under cover or protection of her husband; a married woman. (Cf. COVERT a. 4.)
[1528. Perkins, Prof. Bk. (1532), 2, marg. Graunt de feme couert est void.]
1602. Fulbecke, 1st Pt. Parall., 4. A feme couert cannot make a contract.
1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quev. (1708), 70. My poor wife … being a Feme-Coverte, not an Officer durst come near her.
1743. Fielding, Wedding-Day, IV. v. Do you know, sir, that this lady is a femme couverte?
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 111. Courts of equity, on petition of the first tenant in tail, and of the party having any prior estate, being adults, or of femes covert, being separately examined, may order such money to be paid to them, or applied as they shall appoint.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy-bk. Prop. Law, xxv. 189. The time is excluded in the computation during which the person capable of resisting the claim is an infant, lunatic, feme covert, or tenant for life, or during the pendency of any action or suit diligently prosecuted.
b. humorously: Wife.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. I. 862 Those … femme couerts to all mankind.
