Daily AncestorFeme covert
Feme covert is old law French for a married woman, literally a "covered woman," one whose legal rights were held under her husband during marriage.
The phrase comes from Anglo-Norman law French. Blackstone explained that a wife was so called because she acted under the wing, protection or cover of her husband. The opposite was feme sole, a woman acting in her own right.
In deeds and court papers the words flag that a woman's act needed her husband's part in it, for example that a wife's deed had to be signed by her husband too.
As seen in a recordChancery court bill, 1800s
Lydia Speck, wife of Hiram Speck, she being a feme covert, by Hiram Speck her husband and next friend
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Feme covert." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/feme-covert. Last checked 2026-10-12.