coverture

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French coverture, from covrir (“to cover”) or from Late Latin coopertura. Doublet of couverture.

coverture (countable and uncountable, plural covertures)

1. (law, historical) A common law doctrine developed in England during the Middle Ages, whereby a woman's legal existence, upon marriage, was subsumed by that of her husband, particularly with regard to ownership of property and protection.
2. Alternative spelling of couverture
3. Shelter, hiding place.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 3 Scene 1

     URSULA. The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish

     Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,

     And greedily devour the treacherous bait:

     So angle we for Beatrice; who even now

     Is couched in the woodbine coverture.

• feme covert

From Late Latin coopertūra, from Latin coopertus; equivalent to covert +‎ -ure, from covrir (“to cover”).

coverture f (oblique plural covertures, nominative singular coverture, nominative plural covertures)

1. covering; cover
   • Perceval ou le conte du Graal, Christian of Troyes

     sanz coverture fu la sele[.]

     The saddle was without a cover.

• English: coverture
• French: couverture