Rove — Defs

01 v. t. To draw through an eye or aperture.

1.
To draw through an eye or aperture.
2.
To draw out into flakes; to card, as wool.
3.
To twist slightly; to bring together, as slivers of wool or cotton, and twist slightly before spinning.

02 n. A copper washer upon which the end of a nail is clinched in boat building.

1.
A copper washer upon which the end of a nail is clinched in boat building.
2.
A roll or sliver of wool or cotton drawn out and slighty twisted, preparatory to further process; a roving.

03 v. i. To practice robbery on the seas; to wander about on the seas in piracy.

imp. & p. p. Roved; p. pr. & vb. n. Roving

1.
To practice robbery on the seas; to wander about on the seas in piracy.[Obs.]
2.
Hence, to wander; to ramble; to rauge; to go, move, or pass without certain direction in any manner, by sailing, walking, riding, flying, or otherwise.
“For who has power to walk has power to rove.” — Arbuthnot.
3.
To shoot at rovers; hence, to shoot at an angle of elevation, not at point-blank (rovers usually being beyond the point-blank range).(Archery)
“Fair Venus' son, that with thy cruel dart At that good knight so cunningly didst rove.” — Spenser.

Syn. To wander; roam; range; ramble stroll.

04 v. t. To wander over or through.

1.
To wander over or through.
“Roving the field, I chanced A goodly tree far distant to behold.” — milton.
2.
To plow into ridges by turning the earth of two furrows together.

05 n. The act of wandering; a ramble.

1.
The act of wandering; a ramble.
“In thy nocturnal rove one moment halt.” — Young.

Phrases & compounds

Rove beetle — any one of numerous species of beetles of the family Staphylinidae, having short elytra beneath which the wings are folded transversely. They are rapid runners, and seldom fly.