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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gove, Goif, v.¹ Also: gowe, gov, gofe, goyf. [Of obscure origin. Only in poetry and freq. in the pres. pple. govand.]

1. intr. To gaze (on), to stare.(a) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 82.
He … mete & drink vald nocht assay Bot to the hewine ves govand ay Ib. xxiii. 248.
The gret stanis quhen he cane se, … That gert hyme muse & gowe c1400 Troy-bk. i. 305.
The commowns, as thai on thame gowyt, Attour all thing thar hawyng lowyt ?1438 Alex. ii. 1579.
The folk of Grece fast on vs gouis, And lakkis vs maa, I trow, na louis Ib. 2004.
Quhen the ladeis hard him sa louit, Ilk of thame on uther gouit a1500 Henr. Fab. 851 (B).
Govand agast, thay gadderit on a grene 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 172.
Thus in a stair quhy standis thow stupifak, Gouand all day c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 5.
I govit on that gudliest, Sa lang to luk I tuk laseir 1513 Doug. vii. xiii. 78.
With spreit abasyt thai gove hir forto se Ib. viii. ix. 118.
The wofull moderis … Govand apon thar bryght armour at schane(b) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 408.
Thai goif one strangers and thai keik, And al thar faltis one thaim thai seik c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 287.
Apon the galland for to goif it gladit me agane Ib. 393.
Me thought him gracelese on to goif 1513 Doug. v. vi. 127.
Than lewch that ryal prynce on hym to goyf Ib. vii. xiv. 78 (Sm).
With spreit abasit thai gofe hir for to se a1568 Scott xx. 42.
The blenkyne of ane e Ay gart thé goif and glaik

2. tr. To look at, observe. 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 68.
Sic way he wrocht, that quha thar tred list goif, Na takynnys suld convoy thame to his coif