Cov"er*ture (k?v"?r-t?r; 135), n. [OF. coverture,F.couverture.]
1.
Covering; shelter; defence; 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.
© Webster 1913.