cove
Preserved but no longer current.
Or COVEY, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally preceded by an expressive adjective, thus a "flash COVE," a "rum COVE," a "downy COVE," &c. The feminine, COVESS, was once popular, but it has fallen into disuse. Originally ancient cant (temp. Henry VII.), COFE, or CUFFIN, altered in Decker’s time to COVE. See Witts’ Recreations, 1654: "there’s a gentry-COVE here," i.e., a gentleman. Probably connected with CUIF, which, in the North of England, signifies a lout or awkward fellow.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cove” mean?
Or COVEY, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally preceded by an expressive adjective, thus a "flash COVE," a "rum COVE," a "downy COVE," &c. The feminine, COVESS, was once popular, but it has fallen into disuse. Originally ancient cant (temp. Henry VII.), COFE, or CUFFIN, altered in Decker’s time to COVE. See Witts’ Recreations, 1654: "there’s a gentry-COVE here," i.e., a gentleman. Probably connected with CUIF, which, in the North of England, signifies a lout or awkward fellow.
Is “cove” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.