couvade
- n a custom among some peoples whereby the husband of a pregnant wife is put to bed at the time of bearing the child
- Men, of course, cannot bear babies despite the romantic notions called couvade, whereby the father writhes in bed when the mother goes through labor.
- A common ceremony is the "couvade": the pregnant woman ignores her condition as best she can, while the husband secludes himself, sticks to a careful diet.