Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒvei(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒvei(e n. Also cove(e, covy. |
| Etymology | OF covée, couvée. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A brood or covey of partridges; also, as term of association: ~ of partriches; (b) a volley of shot; also, a kind of gun.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)826 : Vn Couee de perdys: A couee of pertrichez.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)2 : A nye of fesauntes, a coueye [F coueye] of perdryz.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)96 : Covey [Win: cove] of pertrychys: Cuneus, vel cohors.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A couy of partirigges.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Halliwell)296 : Ye schull say I have founde a covey of pertrich, a bevey of quayles.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Halliwell)297 : Lete the spanyell flusch up the covey.
b
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1851 : Bumbardys thei cary..Fouler, covey, crappaude, and colueryne.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2861 : The covey fleeth as foulis thorgh the sayle..Yet on thei come and vs thei wil assaile.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A Covey of pertriches.
Note: Needed for date.
Note: Belongs to sense (a).
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)231 : A couy of pertrychez.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: Belong to sense (a).
Note: List of variant spellings in form section may need revision.--notes per MLL