covert

/ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt/

Middle English, from Anglo-French, past participle of coverir to cover

adjective

  1. not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled

  2. covered over : sheltered

a covert alliance

secret covert stealthy furtive clandestine surreptitious underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

noun

  1. hiding place : shelter

  2. a thicket affording cover for game

  3. a masking or concealing device

noun

  1. one of the coverts of the tail quills