A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1578
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Hover, n. Also: hovir, -ire, -yr, -or. [f. Hover,v. Also in later Sc. and north. and north midl. Eng. dialects.] The condition of standing in a state of indecision or hesitation; a state of perplexity or indecision. Withoutin hover, without hesitation or delay. — 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 79.
As he stud on hovyr thus 1513 Ib. 129.
Abydand lang in hovir quhat he suld do 1531 Bell. Boece I. 235.
The Romanis … stud in hovor, nocht knawing quhidder thay wald renew battal in the samin nicht, or abide the day 1533 Boece xv. v. 583.
He was in sic hovire he couth nocht determe to quhat parte he suld inclyne 1535 Stewart 45126.
Richt haistelie withoutin hover, In sax schippis tha passit ouir at Dover a1578 Pitsc. (1814) 537.
To Tarbat mylne, quhair they stood in hover and tuik consultatioun quhat was best to be done
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"Hover n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/hover_n>
