Cov″er (k?v″?r), n. 1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
2. Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak. “Under cover of the night.” Macaulay.
A handsome cover for imperfections.
Collier.
3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.
Being compelled to lodge in the field... whilst his army was under cover, they might be forced to retire.
Clarendon.
4. (Hunting) The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the overlap of the course above. Knight.
6. (Steam Engine) The lap of a slide valve.
7. [Cf. F. couvert.] A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests.
To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; — said of game. — Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; — said of a written message.
Letters... dispatched under cover to her ladyship.
Thackeray.