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roven.1 Origin: Perhaps a borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymology: < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic ró , Norwegian ro , Faroese rógv , in the same sense), further etymology uncertain; it has been suggested that it may be < the same Germanic base as wro n., the supposed original sense being ‘curvature’ or ‘crooked object’.The α. forms show excrescent v , in some cases with subsequent devoicing (compare similarly β. forms at ro n., cruive n. variant of croo n., and forms with -f listed at grow v.). The β. forms lack the excrescent consonant (as shown contextually by rhyming evidence). The form rugh probably shows a reverse spelling. The origin of the form rouze (attested in a 16th-cent. document from Bristol) is unclear. The etymology and the modern regional forms would suggest that the word showed Middle English close ō. It is uncertain whether the usual modern pronunciation with /əʊ/ reflects a variant with Middle English open ō (as suggested by B. Sandahl Middle Eng. Sea Terms (1951) I. 155) or whether it shows a more recent spelling pronunciation. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > shipbuilding > nails, rivets bolts > plate or ring as base for rivet α. 1298–9 Naval Acct. in B. Sandahl (1951) I. 145 In MCC. semnayl et Ros' [read Rof'] CCCC. grossis spyking'..emptis..xxij.s.ob. 1336–7 19/31 m. 5 Computat..in M1.M1.M1. Clynt' et Ros [read Rof] emptis de Iohanne..fabro..xxx s. 1406 in J. T. Fowler (1901) III. 606 Item, in exp. Ricardi Couhird..pro seme et Ruse [read Rufe]. 1474–5 in J. T. Fowler (1901) III. 645 Circa reparacionem medietatis de le Ferybote..cum seme, rove, clavis ferr..42 s. 10 d. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil i. iii. 49 [The ship] quhairin ancyant Alethes was, The storme ourset, raif ruvis and syde semis. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius (1858) I. 140 With..pleven plait with mony riall rufe, With courtlie cast of cot-armour abufe. 1602 in (1939) I. 423 ijc stem [?read seme] and ruiff naillis. 1668 in (1927) 5 39 Ane little kinkin with some small seam and roove all being weyed came to two stone and fourtein pund weight. 1683 in 1 Aug. For work furnissed be him to the ferry boat viz. seame roofe and specks. 1730 in (1913) VI. i. 35 2 firkins seam and roove. 1747 in (1934) 12 50 Some seem and ruve for boats. 1794 D. Steel I. 8 Rove, a small square piece of iron, with a hole in the middle, whereon is clenched the point of a nail, to prevent its drawing. 1860 C. Tomlinson 2nd Ser. Steel 43 They are clenched either by hammering down the extremity, or by placing over it a little diamond-shaped plate of metal called a rove, and rivetting the end of the clench nail down upon it. 1871 2 164/1 For skiff or light built pulling boats, the land nails are to be seven-eighths of an inch long, and the timber nails one and a-quarter inch, with rooves of a quarter of an inch. 1892 G. Stewart (ed. 2) 70 Dey wir biggit wi' timmer pins, bit efter dey cam hame dey were clinkit wi' seam an' ruove. 1902 L. Hope i. ix. 44 The end of the ‘holder on’ should have a hole in it to let the nail pass through the rove. 1948 I. Proctor ix. 107 Rooves are put on to nails by means of a rooving punch. 1949 No. 19. 44 Haddin' a weight o' iron firnent him whin he drave da sem an' ruvs. 2000 D. Gerr x. 151 Copper rivets are always hammered down on the inside over a rove or burr. Phrases society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [noun] > shipbuilding > nails, rivets bolts 1336-7*Clynt' et Ros [see α. ]. 1419–22 Naval Acct. in B. Sandahl (1951) I. 138 In..diuers' ferr' vocat' Clench' & Roff. 1488 in M. Oppenheim (1896) 15 lxj lb di of long Rofe & clenche. 1497 in M. Oppenheim (1896) 152 Roff & clynche nayles xliiij lb di... In clynche worke Roff & nayle xijlb. 1545–6 Raconyng of Voy. into Eyeslond in 25 (1939) 173 Itm. to Bennet for lli Ruf & clynche. Itm. for xv dossyn a Breed. 1626 J. Smith 3 The Carpenter and his Mate is to haue the Nayles, Clinches, roue and clinch-nailes. 1644 H. Mainwaring 86 The Planckes of Clincher-boates, are thus fastned so together, which kind of work is called Rove and Clinch. 1827 28 Sept. Nails, Copper Boat..Ditto, Rove and Clinch. 1847 18 Sept. Nails, copper, boat, rove and clench. 1880 D. Kemp (ed. 2) 537 She has a frame of American elm, fastened with rove and clench copper nails and wire. 1979 F. Howard i. 21/1 The large quantities of rove-and-clench nails bought for the new ships..prove that substantial portions of those ships were clinker-plated. 1993 M. J. Darling & D. Gurney iii. 50 (note) Rove and clench nails. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). roven.2 Origin: Either (i) a borrowing from early Scandinavian. Or (ii) a borrowing from Dutch. Or (iii) a borrowing from Middle Low German. Etymons: Dutch rōve; Middle Low German rōve. Etymology: Either < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic hrufa crust, rough surface of a stone, scab, Norwegian regional ruva , Old Swedish ruva (Swedish ruva ), early modern Danish rove (Danish roe ), all in sense ‘scab’) or < one of its cognates Middle Dutch rōve kind of scabby skin condition, rash (Dutch roof scab) or Middle Low German rōve, rāve, further cognate with Old High German ruf scab, kind of scabby skin condition, rufe sorrel (which was used to treat such conditions) (Middle High German rufe scab, kind of skin condition, sorrel; German regional (southern) Rufe scab, in some areas also ‘rind, crust’) < the same Germanic base as reof adj.Compare Shetland Scots ruff, røf skin eruption, rash, (also) encrustation on a stone (1745; probably < the unattested Norn reflex of the early Scandinavian word represented by the Scandinavian forms listed above). N.E.D. (1910) gives the pronunciation as (rɒv) /rʌv/. Now rare ( English regional ( Suffolk) in later use). the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > skin disorders > [noun] > scurfy or scabby state or disease ?c1450 in G. Müller (1929) 102 (MED) For hym þat hath skabbe or roue. c1475 in J. Norri (1992) 252 For scabbe oþer for rove. 2. the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > wound > scab a1500 tr. Lanfranc (Wellcome) f. 30v (MED) After þe cautre or þe medecyne brynnyng þou shalt ley oynement to make fall the roue [L. crusta] of þe brynnyng. 1583 P. Barrough ii. iv. 61 The vnskilfull..pull alway the scabbe or roue, which they ought not to do, before they see the rooue lifted vp. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. 448 The gall likewise of the Sea-scorpion, taketh off the roufe of sores. 1619 E. Bert iii. 81 Search the sore well, and take off the roofe (that couereth and groweth fast to the sore,) as cleane as may be. 1823 E. Moor 320. Rove, a scab. 1891 7th Ser. 11 67/1 Rove = a Scab.—It is interesting to find that the A.-S. hreof is still used in Suffolk in the above altered form. 1960 A. O. D. Claxton (ed. 2) 65 Rove (‘o’ as in ‘fool’), the scab on a partially healed sore. the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > [noun] > a coat or covering layer > a crust or incrustation 1510 J. Stanbridge (new ed.) sig. B.iii Caruariumas, a rofe of bakon or befe. 1530 J. Palsgrave 263/2 Rofe of baken or befe. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. 377 The very pure and perfect Baulme.., when it hath gum mingled among,..will gather soon a brittle roufe or crust vpon it, which quickly cracks and breaks. 1619 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick (1876) I. 239 Thair is a grite quantitie of lyght and crakit gold quhilkis sindrie personis for thair advantage buyes and caussis sowde the same and puttis roovis of fauls gold thairon. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). roven.3Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: rove v.2 Etymology: < rove v.2 (see rove v.2 II.). Compare earlier roving n.1 2. With sense 2a compare earlier rovery n.2 society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [noun] > without fixed aim or wandering > instance of c1550 (1830) v. 1606 Etheriall foullis in air might mak na rove For lustie falkonis. 1745 E. Young 36 In thy nocturnal Rove, one Moment halt. 1786 R. Burns 178 Never tempt th' illicit rove, Tho' naething should divulge it. 1840 R. Browning ii. 269 Sordello's paradise, his roves Among the hills and valleys, plains and groves. 1844 W. Jamie 25 Through yonder grove I took a rove, Amang the trees sae green. 1870 24 Aug. 10 I have not set off on my day's rove without taking precautions. 1957 M. Sarton v. 44 His tail went straight up so they would understand that he was out for a rove and did not intend, at the moment, to catch a mouse. 2005 (Nexis) 23 Feb. 19 Go out with them on a rove around their territory. 2. 1807 in J. Brown (ed. 4) 274 In his roves he was often about that place. a1908 H. C. Hart MS Coll. Ulster Words in M. Traynor (1953) at Rauve Often I do have roves of the side of that island. I see things in my dreams and of a surety there's something in it. Compounds1739 G. Ogle 107 Be ever on the Dress, and on the Rove. 1830 J. Galt III. viii. xii. 215 He went upon the rove, and was, for several days, in a state of..inebriety. 1837 Sept. 383/1 Alciphron should have remembered that, although upon the rove, he was a Professor. 1876 W. Besant & J. Rice II. vii. 116 Isaac went around on the rove. 1904 A. C. Laut i. 40 Night filled the forest with the hoot of owl, and the far, weird cries of wild creatures on the rove. 1981 12 166 I started back and arose, thinking of the servants and attempting to keep my hungry eyes on the rove. 1824 W. Carr i. 24 Our lad's quite bobberous, an aw a roav. 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) (at cited word) ‘What Billy, ye'rea rove soon this morning.’ Cattle are..said to be all a rove when they are running about in hot weather. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † roven.4 Origin: A borrowing from Spanish. Etymon: Spanish rova. Etymology: < Spanish †rova (late 13th cent.), aphetic < arroba , †arrova (first half of the 13th cent.: see arroba n.). Compare post-classical Latin rova (mid 13th cent. in Spanish sources), Catalan rova (12th cent.). Compare earlier arroba n. and foreign-language forms cited at that entry. Obsolete. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [noun] > unit or denomination of weight > unit in Spain, Portugal, or South America the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > [noun] > liquid measure of capacity > specific units of liquid measure > Spanish unit α. 1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Comm. Notable Thinges in tr. J. G. de Mendoza i. ii. xiii. 350 You shall haue foure roues [Sp. arrobas] of wine..for foure rials of plate,..foure roues of suger for five rials. 1596 J. Mellis 543 Forraine wools, to wit, French, Spanish, and Estrich, is also sold by the pound or C. weight, but most commonly by the Roue, 25 pounds to a Rove. 1632 W. Lithgow x. 482 Two Roves of Figges and Rasins. 1699 J. Dickenson 69 We had five Roves of Ammunition-Bread..; twenty Roves of strung Beef; sixty Roves of Indian-Corn. 1720 No. 5911/1 A Rove..is 32 Pounds. ?a1793 W. Beawes I. 215 Oil is taxed in the same manner as the preceding Commodities with an Eighth, and an Eighth on the greater Rove. 1860 J. A. Mann iii. 83 Along the banks of the Zambesi..cotton already grows wild, and Dr. Livingstone states..that he bought a rove of this cotton at the cost of about 1d. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online September 2021). roven.5Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: English rove , rive v.1 Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < rove, past participle of rive v.1 (see δ. forms at rive v.1; compare rive v.1 5). Perhaps compare Old Icelandic rof breach, opening, layer of soil that has been displaced, Faroese rov act of breaking or splitting, landslide, Norwegian regional rov breach, opening, split < the Scandinavian base of Old Icelandic rjúfa to rip up, break a hole in, break up (see reave v.1). English regional ( East Anglian). Now rare. 1702 (Essex) The Landlord is to allow the tennant 4/- an acre for every acre plowed to clean, and 2/- an acre for every Rove for what land is fallowed, the tennant not exceeding three earths and 1 Rove. 1740 in J. Cullum Hist. & Antiq. Hawsted in No. 23 (1784) 217 Three clean earths and a rove. 1784 J. Cullum Hist. & Antiq. Hawsted in No. 23. 217 (note) A rove is half a ploughing: two furrows are made instead of four. 1808 45 342 Instead of an entire clean earth of four furrows, the plough goes over it, making only two, this slight kind of ploughing is sometimes..called a rove. 1823 E. Moor 321 Rove,..a mode of ploughing, nearly similar perhaps to baulking. 1882 G. P. Goldney & W. R. Griffiths (new ed.) iv. 100 Essex, North... For ploughings, harrowings, rollings, not over five clean earths and a rove. 1969 H. Orton & P. M. Tilling III. i. 185 Q[uestion.] What do you call the raised parts in a ploughed field?.. Ess[ex]..rove (i.e. group of furrows 2ft. broad). This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). roven.6Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: rove v.4 Etymology: < rove v.4 Compare earlier row n.4 and roll n.1 4c. Compare also earlier roving n.3 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > rove or slubbing 1789 E. Darwin ii. 58 With quicken'd pace successive rollers move, And these retain, and those extend the rove. 1801 Suppl. II. 518/1 Such is the state of the slab or roove of the first formation. 1839 A. Ure 357 30 coils of the sliver or roove are laid in one length of the bobbin barrel. 1884 W. S. B. McLaren (ed. 2) 54 The carriage..drawing out the rove which has been thus delivered. 1916 155 959 There were a number of revolving spools, and from these spools strands or roves of wool were fed into the machine. 1994 E. W. Barber tr. Homer Odyssey in iv. 119 My mother..is sitting by the hearth in the light of the fire, spinning sea-purple roves of wool. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > rove or slubbing > collectively 1849 W. Pickles 60 If 80 leas are required from rove 150 yards per ounce, what draft must be the spinning frame? 1884 R. Marsden viii. 215 The rove in both the new forms of spinning machines was arranged in creels. 1901 9 Oct. 11/3 Rove is quiet at £9. 10s. for 200 lb. 1918 M. L. Kissell 31 Raw material, or rove, drawn out and fed to spindle. 1981 C. Kroll iv. 23 If you are spinning fiber in roving form, place several of the lengths of rove horizontally across your lap. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † roveadj.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: English rove , rive v.1. Etymology: < rove, regional past participle of rive v.1 (see δ. forms at rive v.1). Compare earlier riven adj. and rived adj.2 (especially rived adj.2 2). Obsolete. rare. 1802 9 293 A rove-ash oar that will dress clean and light, is too pliant. 1821 p. lxi The boat is equipped with fir oars of the best quality, the rove ash oars being found too pliant amongst the breakers. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2020). † rovev.1Origin: Either (i) a borrowing from Dutch. Or (ii) a borrowing from Middle Low German. Etymons: Dutch rōven; Mddle Low German rōven. Etymology: < Middle Dutch rōven or its cognate Middle Low German rōven to rob (see reave v.1). With use with reference to piracy compare Dutch zeeroven to practise piracy (1607), Middle Low German sērȫvet obtained through piracy, and also the nouns Middle Dutch seeroof (Dutch zeeroof ), Middle Low German sērōf , both in sense ‘piracy’. Compare earlier rover n.1In later use sometimes difficult to distinguish from rove v.2 6. Obsolete. c1450 (a1425) (Selden) l. 13674 (MED) Kyng Ioas lyfed with mekyll payn, for Ierusalem was roved [v.r. rovved] and rast. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > piracy > practise piracy [verb (transitive)] 1548 f. ccxxij The bastard..made sayle with all haste, & Roued on the sea. 1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus i. f. 4v He became a Pyrat and roued on the sea, where he toke .170. shippes. 1613 S. Purchas vi. viii. 601 Tripolis,..a receptacle of the Pyrats, which roue and rob in those seas. 1698 J. Fryer 42 With fourteen Sails of Ships they roved on the Coasts of Malabar. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2020). rovev.2 Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: rave v.2 Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps a midland form corresponding to northern rave v.2, either as an analogical formation or as the non-northern reflex of a borrowing < the possible early Scandinavian etymon of rave v.2 (although this would imply a date of borrowing significantly earlier than either English word is attested).With sense 6 compare rove v.1 and the note at that entry. I. To shoot at an arbitrarily selected mark, and senses deriving from this. 1. a. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > practise archery [verb (intransitive)] > types of 1479 [implied in: 1479 in C. J. Longman et al. (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) (1894) vii. 119 Shoyting shaftes, rowying shaftes, childre shaftes, clense arrows unnykt. (at roving n.1 1a)]. a1525 (?1474) (1908) II. 389 Þat no maner persone of þis Citie frohensfurth rove, but shote at stondyng prikkes & buttes. 1546 J. Heywood i. xi. sig. Div Yet haue ye other marks to roue at, at hande. 1590 J. Smythe 46 b Archers and Crosse-bowers..rouing sixe, seauen, or eight scores, may greatly mischiefe and annoy the enemie. 1622 M. Drayton xxvi. 122 At Markes full fortie score, they vs'd to Prick, and Roue. 1633 Bp. J. Hall i. 123 A certaine man drew a bow, without any aime or intention of any speciall marke, but onely roving, in common, at the army. 1707 in H. Playford (new ed.) II. 72 It is a Shaft of Cupid's cut. 'Twill serve to rove, to Prick, to but. 1885 Dec. 782/1 The old English archer not only roved with his bow and arrows..but he also steadily worked for a certain space of time at the ‘roods’, thirty, sixty, and ninety yards. 1918 E. S. Farrow 523 Rove, in archery, to shoot at rovers or at random; hence, to shoot at an angle of elevation. 1999 S. Fadala xiv. 187 It's a perfect partnership—bow-shooters have a place to rove and farmers..get rid of junk on their property. Targets can be whatever is safe. 1557 J. Gwynneth xviii. f. 32 He chose rather to roue at a venture, then to shote at any mark certein. 1579 E. Spenser Aug. 79 She rovde at me with glauncing eye. a1592 R. Greene (1594) sig. B2v But Bacon roues a bow beyond his reach, And tels of more then magicke can performe. 1613 T. Adams 3 His hypocrisie, that roaued at the poore, but leuelled at his profite. a1676 M. Hale (1688) i. v. 86 Yet we are still to seek what is that Rule, whereby to lead us to attain to our great End; and this we rove at. the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > aim at 1598 sig. Diijv He went awaie, with Mr Forster: and when they were gone as far as a man maye rove an arrowe, [etc.]. a1612 J. Harington (1653) 28 Many bolts were roved after him, and some spitefully fether'd. the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > wound with sharp weapon society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > cut of sharp weapon > cut or thrust with sword > strike with sword [verb (transitive)] society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > use of bow and arrow > shoot (arrow) [verb (transitive)] > pierce ?c1550 tr. P. Vergil (1846) I. i. 44 He roved the olde man throughe with his swerde. ?c1550 tr. P. Vergil (1846) I. iv. 143 They roved him throughe with arrowse. †3. the mind > mental capacity > belief > conjecture, guessing > form conjectures, guess [verb (intransitive)] 1551 S. Gardiner f. 74v He doth, but as it were, translate Peter Martyr, sauynge he roueth at solutions, as liketh his fansye. 1558 in A. Feuillerat (1908) 17 The chardge may be roved at. 1576 H. Gilbert x. sig. Hiiijv Yet did he but roue at the matter, or (at the least) gathered the knowledge of it, by coniectures onely. 1627 Bp. J. Hall iii. v. 324 Then I could tell how to take a direct aime, whereas now I must roue and coniecture. 1674 N. Fairfax 168 That Centaur and Meremaid, that never were but in the wildest thoughts of him [sc. God] that sometimes roved at them. the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > utter nonsensically [verb (transitive)] society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > practise archery [verb (transitive)] > shoot arrow in specific way 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe 161 If Osorius require this at our handes, that whatsoever his lavishe tounge shall rashly roave at large, be coyned for an unreproveable oracle. 1596 J. Harington sig. Cc1v After they had roued three or four idle wordes to praise a man, straight they mar al at the buts. society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > be copious [verb (intransitive)] > digress a1575 N. Harpsfield (1878) (modernized text) 52 Thus you see how far and wide the adversaries rove from the mark and matter they should shoot at. 1581 W. Charke in A. Nowell et al. (1584) iv. D d iiij Roue not in generall discourses, that come not neere the marke. 1633 Bp. J. Hall ii. 304 From which graces some having roved, and taken a wrong aime..have turned aside unto vaine jangling. 1673 J. Milton Sonnets xii, in (new ed.) 57 But from that mark how far they roave we see. 1748 A. Philips tr. in 137 But, to the mark address thy bow, nor rove, my soul. the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (intransitive)] > fish using bait 1661 I. Walton (ed. 3) xii. 184 If you rove for a Pearch with a Minnow, then it is best to be alive. 1787 T. Best (ed. 2) 49 If you rove for him, with a minnow or frog (which is a very pleasant way) then your line should be strong. 1815 T. F. Salter (ed. 3) xv. 96 When you bait with a Minnow, either to spin, troll, or rove, it is adviseable to tie the part just above the tail with a turn or two of fine white silk. 1815 T. F. Salter (ed. 3) xliv. 234 As I was once roving for Perch on the banks of the Stort, I met a brother of the angle trolling on horseback. 1900 Apr. 5 When roving for perch with a minnow you may sometimes take a large chub. II. Senses relating to travelling and wandering. 6. society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (intransitive)] > with no fixed aim or wander 1481 (a1470) J. Tiptoft tr. Cicero (Caxton) sig. d3 We shold naturelly moste desire that we myght come alwey. at the heeles of theym that we were lete out with to roue first. 1536 c. 28 §1 A greate multytude of the Relygyous persons in suche smale Houses doo..chose to rove abrode in apostasy. 1579 S. Gosson Ep. Ded. sig. ☞4v When Ouid had roaued long on the Seas of wantonnesse, he became a good Pilot to all that followed. 1627 G. Hakewill iii. x. 264 On Sea we rou'd three dayes as darke as night. 1650 T. Fuller i. v. 12 Such the store of ravenous beasts freely roaving up and down the countrey. a1691 R. Boyle (1692) 249 The numerous sorts of saline corpuscles that rove up and down in the air. 1711 R. Steele No. 254. ⁋3 One would think you..roved among the Walks of Paradise. 1798 W. Wordsworth i. 241 He roved among the vales and streams, In the green wood and hollow dell. c1835 N. P. Willis 48 I have roved From wild America to Bosphor's waters. 1850 W. Collins iv The rich light roved over the waters. 1879 J. A. Froude ix. 98 They roved over the waters at their pleasure, attacking islands or commercial ports. 1917 G. F. Will & G. E. Hyde 45 The Atsinas..sometimes roved north of the Missouri and sometimes south of it. 1941 A. St. James tr. S. Zweig 211 The Paulistas..roved through the whole country..in search of loot. 1999 8 Feb. 14/3 He roved about England with a Brownie camera documenting noble piles of brick and stone. society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (transitive)] > wander (one's way, etc.) > wander in, over, or about 1537 1 Sam. xxiii. 27 The Philistines are come in & roue ye land. 1567 W. Painter II. f. 307v Two Hungarian Lordes so presumptuously had bended them selues like common Theeues to wander and roue the Countreys. 1637 J. Milton 3 Comus..Roaving the Celtick, and Iberian fields At last betakes him to this ominous wood. 1667 J. Milton ix. 575 On a day roaving the field, I chanc'd A goodly Tree farr distant to behold. View more context for this quotation 1725 A. Pope tr. Homer III. x. 335 O blind to fate! what led thy steps to rove The horrid mazes of this magic grove? 1783 W. Thomson in R. Watson & W. Thomson vi. 474 He had also ships of war under his command, which roved the seas. 1807 W. Wordsworth I. 121 A labyrinth Lady! which your feet shall rove. 1817 W. Scott i. i. 9 Count Witikind..roved with his Norsemen the land and the main. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in 149 Roving the trackless realms of Lyonnesse. 1911 W. F. Allen 32 What warrior phantom roves those Woods with you? 1954 8 Feb. 74/1 Ever since European explorers began to rove the tropic oceans. 1999 S. Rushdie (2000) vi. 180 He would rove the streets, looking for her, the woman who was nowhere. 1569 R. Grafton II. 156 The Souldiours that lay in Southwarke..roued ouer vnto Westminster, and spoyled there the kinges Palace. society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (transitive)] > wander (one's way, etc.) 1610 R. Tofte iii. 94 When as the harmelesse flocks of beasts, and thick-woolld bleating sheepe, Did roue themselues abroad alone, and on the mountaines keepe. 1653 E. Chisenhale 376 They quit the harbor adjoyning to that Rock, and rove themselves upon the billows of strange contests. 1886 5 July 6/4 A good back, especially, is never thrown away in his position; but once he takes it upon himself to rove he lays his quarters open to an easy attack. 1920 W. Camp 118 When he drops back and roves, his play then becomes almost akin to that of the middle secondary man. 1954 27 June iv. 5/6 Veteran winger Stanley Matthews cast aside the heat and his 39 years to rove from wing to wing and bewilder the Uruguayan defense. 1988 (Nexis) 23 May Baker was roving well and Hope and Free were doing well on the wings. 2007 (Electronic ed.) 7 Apr. 5 Pardew's second-half decision to offer him considerable freedom to rove into central midfield and attack began fazing the previously assured Sun. the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > wander in thought [verb (intransitive)] the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] > waver 1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus sig. Tiii,v Whiles their mindes so roued and wandred, thei were most happie and blisfull. 1598 R. Barret iii. 32 I haue in generall roued ouer some part thereof alreadie; but not so particularly as such an action would require. 1659 T. Burton (1828) IV. 37 I had rather that this House were laid aside by a question, than rove up and down thus, and do nought. 1667 Duchess of Newcastle iv. 187 For though my judgment roves at random, yet it can never miss of Errors. 1709 I. Watts (ed. 2) i. 73 Then shall my Feet no more depart, Nor my Senses rove. 1785 W. Cowper iv. 232 Roving as I rove, Where shall I find an end, or how proceed? 1805 T. Morton 88 In livelier vein we regulate our chat, And, quick as thought, we rove from this to that. 1838 July 470/2 If he be not thus absent minded, his thoughts wander and rove about. 1904 M. Beerbohm in 9 July 42/2 My imagination roved back to lose itself in the golden haze of the Second Empire. 1997 M. Z. Bradley (1998) x. 181 Wycherly had been dozing through the heat of the day, his mind roving restlessly over the images he'd seen in Les Cultes. 8. Of a person's eyes, gaze, etc. the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (intransitive)] > look around > of eyes: to wander ?1577 A. Bourcher (single sheet) Thus whilste their twinkelynge eyes, were rouyng to and fro. 1608 Bp. J. Hall i. 6 Both his eyes are neuer at once from home, but one keepes house while the other roues abroad for intelligence. a1656 Bp. J. Hall (1660) ii. 251 Durst we give our eyes leave to rove abroad in wanton glances? 1737 Nov. 697/1 Her eyes rove fast his wish'd approach to hail. 1839 9 651 I turned my eyes to reconnoitre the carriages..and..my gaze roved from one to another. 1865 C. J. Vaughan 71 Must thine eye be thus roving thy forthright vision thus distracted? 1902 ‘Linesman’ 126 A Boer searchlight..which roved like an angry eye from end to end of our line of march. 1928 15 June 9/4 The blue eyes were not as serene as he would like to have seen them. The professor's grey ones roved nervily from side to side. 1997 H. Kureishi 123 They made jokes about the local mullahs..while their eyes roved over the boys and girls in their care. 1766 G. Keate 3 I turn, and while my Eye the Cloister roves, The flaring Tapers pour upon my Sight. 1834 July 223 His raptured eye Roves the domain, the golden city sees. 1865 E. Stoddard xxvi. 204 Tears moistened his eyes as they dwelt on Parke, whose tearless gaze roved the sky. 1913 J. London 472 Vainly Saxon's eye roved the pine forest in search of her beloved redwoods. 1986 D. Leavitt (1987) 198 Brad's eye roved the room, which had recently taken on a second identity as an art gallery and was filled with murals. 2003 (Electronic ed.) 1 May b3 Her eyes roved the grounds looking for her parents to arrive with her 6-month-old son. 1639 T. Fuller v. xviii. 259 North-eastward, it [sc. the kingdom] roved over the Principalities of Antioch and Edessa. the mind > emotion > excitement > extravagant or rapturous excitement > be affected by extravagant or rapturous excitement [verb (intransitive)] > talk extravagantly or rapturously a1668 J. Renwick (1776) 71 When was it that Peter would have made three tabernacles..? Even when he was roving, and wist not what he said. 1720 A. Pennecuik (ed. 2) i. 15 I roave, all sense is gone, I'll fly away. 1766 R. Shirra Deathbed Dial. in (1850) 26 He roved much through this day. 1824 J. Mactaggart 414 When one talks while sleeping, we are said to be roving in our sleep. 1885 17 105 All night he had been rovin' with pain. 1897 J. Hammond 339 If we are distracted with pain, we are ‘roving’. 1931 J. T. S. Leask 137 Sheu waas rovan an' dadded 'ersel aboot. 1988 G. Lamb Rove,..to be delirious, rave. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). rovev.3 Brit.  /ruːv/, /rəʊv/, U.S. /ruv/, /roʊv/, Scottish English /ruv/Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: rove n.1 Etymology: < rove n.1 (see discussion at that entry). Compare later roved adj. Originally Scottish. society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with rivets 1568 Edinb. Hammermen f. 5v, in at Rufe That na armorare..sett out ony gairdis to sell on stairis buith dureis or windois as seinȝeis without thay be ruifit on swordis & sufficient compleit work. 1587 (1814) III. c. 136. 522/1 Þat þer be a prik of Irne,..passing throw þe middis of þe said ovir corss bar, Ruiffit bayth onder and abone. 1646 R. Baillie 13 Oct. (1841) II. 403 If this naill be once rooved, we with our teeth will never gett it drawne. a1656 A. Gray Serm. in (1698) 138 The great voice of our consciences, and of all the convictions which God rooves upon them. a1678 A. Wedderburn (1698) xxx. 277 The Mediator..hath driven the nail, and rooved it so fast, that there were no possibility to draw it again. 1725 A. Ramsay v. iii. 87 The Lord of Heaven..Confirm your Joys, and a' your Blessing roove. 1736 in A. M. Munro (1909) II. 178 For iron hingers to the two bells and for rowing and sadding the two tongues. 1764 Rothes MS in (1968) VII. 513/2 To 76 wages sherped and roved. 1824 J. Mactaggart (at cited word) My fellow went up and roov'd that nail on the other side. 1890 J. Service ix. 64 It was an airn ring rooved in a muckle stane. 1906 169 The reverse frames which are cut at said keelson must be scarphed by an angle lug roved through said keelson. 1920 E. W. Blocksidge iv. 135 The plank fastenings are usually rooved and clenched in the one operation. 1985 116 The inwales are fastened through every other timber and are roved and riveted on the inside. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). rovev.4Origin: Probably a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: row v.7 Etymology: Probably a variant of row v.7 (although this is first attested later, and apparently earliest in a slightly different sense). Compare earlier row n.4 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > treating or processing textile materials > [verb (transitive)] > draw out or twist 1699 in (1932) 72 Elizabeth Welch to rove Cotton. 1780 D. Rasbotham 19 To card, and rove, and spin, and weave too by machines. 1796 J. Morse (new ed.) I. 543 Machinery to sliver, rove, and spin flax and hemp. 1835 A. Ure 215 Although both [flax and wool] must be roved and spun upon similar principles, each requires peculiar modifications in its machinery. 1879 (new ed.) I. 214/1 The cotton is..cleaned... After that it is roved, a process by which each ribbon is greatly attenuated. 1915 17 June 22/1 Stop to think how much intelligence and patience and skill is required to pick, unravel, draw, comb, rove, spin, twist..3000 acres of Sea Island Cotton yearly. 1989 R. S. Fitton iv. 99 The Manchester Committee also decided to raise £200 for a Stockport man who had invented a machine to rove cotton. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). rovev.5Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a borrowing from Dutch. Etymon: Dutch roef. Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps < early modern Dutch roef roof of a kiln or fireplace (although this has not been traced; cited in the source of quot. 1777-8), specific use of roef covering, small roof (see roof n.). English regional ( south-western). 1711 19–21 Feb. It is Bacon before it is roved or dry'd. 1777–8 R. Wight (MS Bodl. Eng. lang. d.66) 365 To Roove, Beef or Bacon, infumare, fumo indurare, sive fornice. 1847 J. O. Halliwell II Roove, to dry meat in a chimney, or over a kiln. Glouc. 1890 J. D. Robertson Rove, to smoke-dry meat. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † rovev.6Origin: Of unknown origin. Etymology: Origin unknown. Compare roving n.5 Obsolete. 1850 C. Holtzapffel III. 1109 Turning and Roving Smooth Grindstones. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021). <  n.11298 n.2?c1450n.3c1550 n.41588n.51702n.61789 adj.1802v.1c1450 v.21479v.31568v.41699v.51711v.61850 |