covey

covey · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ḱewb-“to lie down”
2. Latin · derived fromcubāre
3. Old French · derived fromcovée“brood (of chickens), clutch”
4. Middle English · inherited fromcovei
5. English todaycovey

The noun is derived from Middle English covei, covey (“brood of partridges, covey; volley of shot; kind of gun”) [and other forms], from Old French covée (“brood (of chickens), clutch”) (modern French couvée), a noun use of the feminine past participle of cover (“to brood (an egg)”) (modern French couver), from Latin cubāre, the present active infinitive of cubō (“to lie down, recline; to incubate; to be broody”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb- (“to lie down”). The verb is derived from the noun. Cognates French couvée (“brood (of chickens), clutch”), couver (“to brood (an egg)”) Italian covata (“brood, clutch, covey, hatch”), covare (“to brood or incubate (an egg)”)

covey · noun²

1. Romani · derived fromkodo“this one; him”
2. English todaycovey

From cove + -y (diminutive suffix). Cove is derived from Romani kodo (“this one; him”) or kova (“that person”).

Covey · proper noun³

Reduced form of McCovey.

Words from the same roots