cov 



COD 



COTYLEDON. A seed consists of 

 three parts : viz. the cotyledons, the radi- 

 cle, and the plumula, which are usually 

 inclosed in a cover. If we take a garden 

 bean, we may perceive each of these 

 three parts with great ease ; for this seed 

 is of so large a size, that all its organs are 

 exceedingly distinct. When we strip ofF 

 the external coats of the bean, which are 

 two, and of different degrees of thickness 

 in different parts, we find that it easily 

 divides into two lobes, pretty nearly of 

 the same size and figure. Each of these 

 lobes is called a cotyledon. The cotyle- 

 dons of the bean, then ; are two in num- 

 ber. See GERMINATION. 



COTTLEOON, in botany, a genus of the 

 Decandria Pentagynia class and order. 

 Natural order of Succulentae. Semper- 

 vivx, Jussieu. Essential character : calyx 

 five-cleft ; corolla one-petalled, with five 

 nectareous scales at the base of the 

 germ ; capsules five. There are nine- 

 teen species, almost all of them natives of 

 the Cape. 



COUCHANT, in heraldry, is under- 

 Stood of a lion, or other beast, when ly- 

 ing down, but with his head raised, which 

 distinguishes the posture of couchant 

 from dormant, wherein he is supposed 

 quite stretched out and asleep. 



COUCHE, in heraldry, denotes any 

 thing lying along: thus, chevron couche, 

 is a chevron lying sideways, with the two 

 ends on one side of the shield, which 

 ^hould properly rest on the base. 



COUCHING, in surgery, one of the 

 two chief methods of curing a cataract, by 

 couching with the needle. 



COVENANT, in law, the agreement 

 or consent of two or more by deed in 

 writing, sealed and delivered, whereby 

 either or one of the parties promises to 

 the other that something is already done, 

 or shall be hereafter done : he that makes 

 the covenant is called the covenantor, 

 and he to whom it is made is denominat- 

 ed the covenantee. 



A covenant is either in fact or in law. 

 A covenant in fact, is that which is ex- 

 pressly agreed on between the parties. 

 In law, it is that covenant which the law 

 intends and implies, though it be not ex- 

 pressed in terms : as where a person 

 grants a lease of a house, &c. for a cer- 

 tain term, the law will intend a covenant 

 en the lessor's part, that the lessee shall 

 quietly enjoy the premises during the 

 Jterm against all incumbrances. 



There is also a covenant real, and a co- 

 venant merely personal. A covenant 

 real, is when a person binds himself to 

 p$s some jreal things, as lands or. tene- 



ments, or to levy a fine of lands, &c. A 

 covenant personal, is when the same is 

 altogether personal ; as if a person, by 

 deed, covenants with another to build 

 him a house, or to do him some other 

 service, &c. 



COVENANT to stand seized to use, is 

 where a man who has a wife, children, 

 brother, sister, or other kindred, does by 

 deed in writing, under hand and seal, 

 covenant and agree, that, for their provi- 

 sion or preferment, he and his heirs shall 

 stand seized of the land to their use, 

 either in fee simple, fee tail, or for 

 life. 



COVERT, in law. See COVERTURE. 



COVERT way, or Corridor, in fortifica- 

 tion, a space of ground level with the 

 field on the edge of the ditch, three or 

 four fathoms broad, ranging quite round 

 the half moons, and other works toward 

 the country. It has a parapet raised 

 on a level, together with its banquets 

 and glacis. The greatest effort, in sieges, 

 is to make a lodgment on the covert-way, 

 because the besieged usually pallisade it 

 along the middle, and undermine it on all 

 sides. 



COVERTURE, in law, is applied to 

 the state and condition of a married wo- 

 man, who is under the power of her 

 husband, and therefore called feme co- 

 vert ; and disabled to contract with any 

 person, to the detriment either of herself 

 or husband, without his consent and 

 privity, or allowance and confirmation 

 thereof. 



COUGH. See MEDICINE. 



COULTER, in husbandry, an iron in- 

 strument fixed in the beam of a plough, 

 and serving to cut the edge of each fur- 

 row. See PLOUGH. 



COUNCIL, or COUNSEL, in a general 

 sense, an assembly of divers considerable 

 persons, to concert measures relating to 

 the state. 



COUNCIL. In this country the law, in 

 order to assist the King in the discharge 

 of his duties, the maintenance of his dig- 

 nity, and the exertion of his prerogative, 

 hath assigned him a diversity of councils 

 to advise with. 



1. The first of these is the high court 

 of parliament. See PARLIAMENT. 



2. The peers of the realm are by their 

 birth hereditary counsellors of the crown, 

 and may be called together by the King, 

 to impart their advice in all matters of 

 importance to (he realm, either in time 

 of parliament, or, which hath been their 

 principal use, when there is no parlia- 

 ment in being. Accordingly, Bracton, 

 speaking of the nobility of his time, says 



