Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a fellow, a man, thus term of affectionate address, my covey.

1674		Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 171: Covee A Man.
c.1811		‘A Leary Mot’ in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 78: Her covey was an am’rous blade, and he buss’d young Bet on the sly.
1821		Egan Life in London (1869) 261: [of a monkey] ‘What a deep covey!’ said a greasy butcher with his mouth open.
1822		‘A. Burton’ My Cousin in the Army 142: [footnote] ‘Cove or covey’ a term in what is technically termed the fancy tongue — a language which is making rapid advances.
1824		J. Wight Mornings in Bow St. 68: Mr Dionysius Dobbs lisping responsively — ‘That's your sort! Go it, Kitty my covy’!
1833		Ely’s Hawk and Buzzard (N.Y.) 21 Sept. 1/3: The nuns who were at the Bowery theatre on Monday night, found business on the increase, the flats bit well and some of the prime uns nibbled [...] two covies found themselves in company not with virgins but half anotomized [sic] figures when they awoke in the morning.
1835		Metropolitan Mag. XIV Sept. 333: There was a covey on board the swimmer with me who had been a regular pinch-gloak.
1841		‘Oh! Sarah, You Wixen’ Dublin Comic Songster 104: Ah nay, good old covey, no further I’ll roam.
1848		‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. III 45: The old covey was very particular in asking her when her husband would get home.
1851		‘Greenhorn’ [G. Thompson] Bristol Bill 12/2: ‘We’ll bleed the old covey tonight. D—n him he has had more swag than he’s a right to!’ .
1858		A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 69: ‘Here, my coveys,’ cried a suspicious-looking youth, as he entered the kitchen of one of the low lodging-houses near the Mint.
1858		Bell’s Life in Sydney 6 Mar. 3/3: Oh! he’s precious old covey; afraid, was he?
c.1864		‘Catalogue’ Rakish Rhymer (1917) 8: The covies calls me Chanting Joe.
1873		W.H. Thomes Bushrangers 46: Look you, covey; you have done me a service to-night. I am grateful, womanly grateful, and for that reason I would save you.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Jan. 13/3: We were just clutching, you must know, / A sandwich of anchovy, / When, sirs, a voice sepulchral, low, / Moaned – ‘Hi, I want you, “covey”’.
1892		H. Lawson ‘Captain of the Push’ in Roderick (1967–9) I 187: Here’s the bleedin’ push, me covey—here’s a (something) from the bush!
1898		Binstead & Wells A Pink ’Un and a Pelican 156: Billie planked down five out of his six gold pieces on the black [...] ‘Rien ne va plus!’ yelled the covey. Another second, and — up came the nigger.
1902		Bulletin Reciter 1880-1901 4: This covey has been keepin’ of a trifle hup his sleeve.
1903		O. Kildare My Mamie Rose 140: I have yet to see the ‘low life’ story which is not studded with ‘cul’ and ‘covey.’ Take my advice and do not use this form of address on the Bowery.
1909		D. Stewart Dead Man’s Gold in Illus. Police News 13 Feb. 12/2: ‘We, you mean, my fly covey. Don’t leave yourelf out’.
1927		(con. 1835–40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 74: The covey’s come a long journey.
1961		‘Frank Richards’ Billy Bunter at Butlins 188: One of them was the fat ‘covey’ who had that wallet in his pocket.
1973		(con. 1940s–60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes ‘Bastard from the Bush’ Snatches and Lays 82: Here’s a covey from the bush.

2. a landlord.

1821		Egan Life in London (1869) 265: ‘Come, Covey,’ says I to the landlord, — ve always calls the landlord Covey, my Lordbeen.
c.1940–5		‘Myles na gCopaleen’ Best of Myles (1968) 36: Picture the Covey as an old man of seventy.

3. a child.

1920

Ade Hand-made Fables 301: The Cadburys had their Covey led into the Show Ring for Inspection, but just as the Maid distributed the Non-Skid Cocktails, the Little Ones got the Chivie.