If the woman's head can be dishonored, that can only be because it has honor to be "dissed." It is honored with a gloried crown of hair which represents the woman's honored role in God's order. Covered means sheltered, protected as a precious treasure kept from exposure to the elements and from looters. Womanhood is a particularly honorable and precious treasure to be highly valued, respected, and covered so as to preserve and protect it, not to hide it from view as something shameful!