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

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

Cover, Cower, v. ² Also: covr-, covir, -yre, cowir, -yr. [ME. cover, covir, etc., OF. covrer. Cf. Cuver v. ²]

1. intr. To recover from an illness or wounds. 1375 Barb. ix. 190.
Schir Eduard … thair maid soiornyng Till he [the king] begouth to couer and ga Ib. 226.
With that he buskit for to ris, That wes nocht all weill couerit then c1420 Wynt. v. 1479.
Scho … coveryt well off hyr malady c1475 Wall. x. 26.
[Seven] thowsand doun thai bar, Dede on the bent, that recoueryt [1570 cowerit] neuir mar a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 586.
Quhill this querrell be quyt, I couer neuer in quert

2. tr. a. To restore; to revive. 1375 Barb. ix. 233.
For suld no medicine so soyne Haff couerit me, as thai haf done a1500 Rauf C. 924.
Wald thow conuert thé in hy, and couer thé of sin, Thow suld haue mair profite 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1333.
Now lat him sit, God couer him of cair 15.. Christis Kirk 118 (M).
With thre routis thay raisit him And coverit him of swoune a 1610 Sempill Ball. 242.
Thow was that soueraigne balme … Quhilk couerit me of all my ills

b. To recover, regain. 1375 Barb. xiv. 321.
He thoucht ȝeit to cowir [E. cowyr] his cast c1450-2 Howlat 502.
Thus frayis he the fals folk, … Aye quhil he cowerit and come to the kingis hart

c. To amend, remove. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 158.
A virgine to couyre oure care, Consawit criste in hyre clen flesch