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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Covert, Cowert, n. Also: cowart. [ME. covert (c 1350), OF. covert.]

1. A hiding place. 1375 Barb. v. 563.
Thai com all thre in a cowert Ib. 582.
Forouten followis ma, Towart the cowert can he ga c1475 Wall. ii. 70.
Feille folowit him … , To tak Wallace: bot … Couert of treis sawit him full weille 1492 Myll Spect. 281/1.
The said Paris, with all his men of armes, ischit out of ther covertis vpone thaim

2. In, into, or under covert, in concealment or hiding; concealed, hid. 1375 Barb. vi. 528.
About ane hill he held his way, And held hym in-to cowert ay Ib. vii. 507.
Fra Carleill all on nychtis ryde, And in covert on dayis byde c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2418.
Peleus durst nocht in apert, Abyde, bot held him in covert a1500 Henr. Fab. 1964.
Thow can in couert creip, Upon thy wame c1475 Wall. i. 258.
Wallace … In cowart went and vp the wattyr past Ib. xi. 331.
He gert the schip in cowert saill away 1494 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 67.
Wyld fowle … to be commonly sawld … at the merkat croce, and nocht vnder covert 1529 Ib. II. 6.
That thai bring thar stuff … opinlie to sell at the merkat cors, and nocht to be haldin in covert under cloikis or gounis