COUVADE (2 syl.), a man who takes the place of his wife when she is in child-bed.  In these cases the man lies a-bed, and the woman does the household duties.  The people called “Gold Tooth,” in the confines of Burmah, are couvades.  M. Francisque Michel tells us the custom still exists in Biscay; and Colonel Yule assures us that it is common in Yunnan and among the Miris in Upper Assam.  Mr.

Tylor has observed the same custom among the Caribs of the West Indies, the Abipones of Central South America, the aborigines of California, in Guiana, in West Africa, and in the Indian Archipelago.  Diodorus speaks of it as existing at one time in Corsica; Strabo says the custom prevailed in the north of Spain; and Apollonius Rhodius that the Tabarenes on the Euxine Sea observed the same: 

In the Tabarenian land, When some good woman bears her lord a babe, ’Tis he is swathed, and groaning put to bed; While she arising tends his bath and serves Nice possets for her husband in the straw.  Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautic Exp

COVERLEY (Sir Roger de), a member of an hypothetical club, noted for his modesty, generosity, hospitality, and eccentric whims; most courteous to his neighbors, most affectionate to his family, most amiable to his domestics.  Sir Roger, who figures in thirty papers of the Spectator, is the very beau-ideal of an amiable country gentleman of Queen Anne’s time.

What would Sir Roger de Coverley be without his follies and his charming little brain-cracks?  If the good knight did not call out to the people sleeping in church, and say “Amen” with such delightful pomposity; if he did not mistake Mde.  Doll Tearsheet for a lady of quality in Temple Garden; if he were wiser than he is ... of what worth were he to us?  We love him for his vanities as much as for his virtues.—­Thackeray.

COWARDS and BULLIES.  In Shakespeare we have Paroles and Pistol; in Ben Jonson, Bobadil; in Beaumont and Fletcher, Bessus and Mons. Lapet, the very prince of cowards; in the French drama, La Capitan, Metamore, and Scaramouch. (See also BASILISCO, CAPTAIN NOLL BLUFF, BOROUGHCLIFF, CAPTAIN BRAZEN, SIR PETRONEL FLASH, SACRIPANT, VINCENT DE LA ROSA, etc.)

COWPER, called “Author of The Task,” from his principal poem (1731-1800).

COXCOMB (The Prince of) Charles Joseph Prince de Ligne (1535-1614).

Richard II. of England (1366, 1377-1400).

Henri III, of France, Le Mignon (1551, 1574-1589).

COXE (Captain), one of the masques at Kenilworth.—­Sir W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

COY BISHOP.  Best friend and unconscious foil to Avis Dobell in Elizabeth Stuart Phelps’ Story of Avis.  “Her face is as innocent of sarcasm as a mocking bird’s;” she “is one of the immortal few who can look pretty in their crimping-pins;” she “has the glibness of most unaccentuated natures;” she admires Avis without comprehending her, and she makes an excellent wife to John Rose, a practical young clergyman. (1877).