couvade

cou·vade

noun \kü-ˈväd\

Definition of COUVADE

: a custom in some cultures in which when a child is born the father takes to bed as if bearing the child and submits himself to fasting, purification, or taboos

Origin of COUVADE

French, from Middle French, cowardly inactivity, from cover to sit on, brood over — more at covey

First Known Use: 1865

Rhymes with COUVADE

Akkad, Arad, Ashdod, aubade, ballade, Belgrade, bipod, black cod, Black Rod, Cape Cod, croustade, death squad, dry-shod, ephod, facade, fantod, fly rod, glissade, hot-rod, jihad, lingcod, Nimrod, oeillade, peasecod, pomade, ramrod, Riyadh, roughshod, roulade, saccade, scalade, seedpod, slipshod, sun god, synod, tie-rod, tightwad, tomcod, torsade, tripod, unshod, vice squad

cou·vade

noun \kü-ˈväd\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of COUVADE

1

: a custom in some cultures in which when a child is born the father takes to bed as if bearing the child and submits himself to fasting, purification, or taboos

2

: couvade syndrome