What is "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.

2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.

   And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne.
   --Milton.

   All that beauty than doth cover thee.
   --Shak.

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

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

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

   A cloud covered the mount.
   --Exod. xxiv. 1

5. In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame.
   --Milton.

   5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.

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

6. To overwhelm; to spread over.

   The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen.
   --Ex. xiv. 28.

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

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

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

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.

10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.

    Cover thy head . . .; nay, prithee, be covered.
    --Shak.

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

    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.