What does covine mean?
Covine is a rare and now largely archaic English noun denoting an accomplice or confederate — someone who joins another in a fraudulent or wrongful undertaking. Its most durable survival is in Scots law, where the phrase 'in covine with' appears in cases concerning conveyances or transactions made collusively to defeat the claims of creditors; a transfer made in covine is one tainted by secret fraudulent agreement. The word entered English through Old French covin, meaning a band or conspiracy, ultimately tracing back to Latin convenire, 'to come together' — the same root that gives us convene and covenant. In everyday modern speech covine has essentially vanished, and readers encountering it will usually do so in historical legal texts or Scottish case law. Its resemblance to 'coven', a gathering of witches, is coincidental but frequently causes confusion, making careful distinction worthwhile for anyone reading older legal documents.
An accomplice or confederate in a fraudulent or wrongful act.
"She was named in the indictment as a covine in the forgery plot."
Archaic; today encountered mainly in Scots legal terminology.
Collusion or fraudulent combination between parties, especially in Scots law regarding transactions intended to prejudice creditors.
"The disposition was set aside as having been granted in covine."
Chiefly used in the fixed phrase 'in covine with'.
The plural is rare, as the word typically appears in legal phrases rather than counted contexts.
"The conspirators were described as covines in the old record."
Though it looks like 'coven' with a typo, a covine is actually a partner in deceit — and the phrase 'in covine with' once carried real weight in Scottish courtrooms.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of covine
Covine derives from Old French covin, which meant a group, band, or conspiracy of people, and was itself borrowed into Middle English in senses relating to confederates and fraudulent combinations. The French word traces back to Late Latin conventum/convenium, from the verb convenire, 'to come together, agree' — the same Latin root underlying English convene, convention, and covenant. The word's association with fraud and collusion became particularly fixed in Scots law, where 'covine' came to denote fraudulent or collusive dealing, a usage attested from the medieval period onward.
How covine is actually used
Covine is archaic and rare in modern English, surviving chiefly in Scots law contexts such as conveyancing and bankruptcy proceedings, where the phrase 'made in covine' describes transfers intended to defraud creditors. Outside legal registers it would likely be unfamiliar to most readers.
Easily confused with covine
A coven is a gathering or group of witches, while a covine is an accomplice or a fraudulent, collusive arrangement.
Convene is a verb meaning to come together or assemble, whereas covine is a noun referring to an accomplice or collusion.