To cover one's short contracts

Cover Cov"er (k?v"?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Covered} (-?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Covering}.] [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing in aperire to open. Cf. {Aperient}, {Overt}, {Curfew}.] 1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth. [1913 Webster]

2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak. [1913 Webster]

And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

All that beauty than doth cover thee. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self); as, he covered himself with glory. [1913 Webster]

The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the partition of Poland. --Brougham. [1913 Webster]

4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods. [1913 Webster]

A cloud covered the mount. --Exod. xxiv. 15. [1913 Webster]

In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To brood or sit on; to incubate. [1913 Webster]

While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with his songs. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

6. To overwhelm; to spread over. [1913 Webster]

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen. --Ex. xiv. 28. [1913 Webster]

7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. [1913 Webster]

His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. --Cowley. [1913 Webster]

8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit. ``Blessed is he whose is covered.'' --Ps. xxxii. 1. [1913 Webster]

9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses. [1913 Webster]

10. To put the usual covering or headdress on. [1913 Webster]

Cover thy head . . .; nay, prithee, be covered. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers a mare; -- said of the male. [1913 Webster]

{To cover ground} or {To cover distance}, to pass over; as, the rider covered the ground in an hour.

{To cover one's short contracts} (Stock Exchange), to buy stock when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order to protect himself.

{Covering party} (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches.

{To cover into}, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.

Syn: To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread. [1913 Webster]