Dictionary entry

Coverture

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Cov″er‐ture (k?v″?r–t?r; 135), n. [OF. coverture,F. couverture.] 1. Covering; shelter; defense; hiding.

Protected by walls or other like coverture.

Woodward.

Beatrice, who even now

Is couched in the woodbine coverture.

Shak.

2. (Law) The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her husband, and therefore called a feme covert, or femme couverte.