A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Rove, v. Also: ? roy- (see Royis). [? Erron. var. of Rave n.1, influenced by late ME and e.m.E. rove (1474) (perh., OED conjectures, ‘a Midland form of Rave v.2 to stray’).] intr. a. To wander in mind; to rave; to talk nonsense. b. Of the mind: To wander, fantasise. —a. 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 71.
When was it that Peter would have made three tabernacles … ? Even when he was roving, and wist not what he said —b. 1653 Binning Wks. 190.
Our minds can rove whole days about vanity, about fancies, dreams, nothings
