Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TOVE, v.2, n.2 [to:v]
I. v. 1. To talk in a friendly, animated and prolix way, to gossip, chat (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 157; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), freq. in pbr. to tove and crack (Jam.).Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 166:
Thusgates the lairds did tove and crack.Lnk. 1827 J. Watt Poems 93:
We tov'd an' drank till baith were fu'.Fif. 1841 C. Gray Lays 5:
I tove awa by the ingle-side, And tell o' the blasts I was wont to bide.Ags. 1892 F. F. Angus Susie ii.:
I was tovin wi' a Killameur man the ither day.
2. To flirt or flaunt about with girls (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 157).
II. n. 1. A chat, talk or gossip.Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xiv.:
Hendry stopped to have what he called a tove with any likely person he encountered.Kcb. 1903 Crockett Banner of Blue vi.:
I wadna gie yae guid tove wi' auld Anton MacMillan for a' the bletherin' lot.Ayr. 1924 J. Innes Till a' the Seas i.:
As they met in the road for a tove.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 22:
Oo'll heh a gless an a tove thegither for auld lang seine.
2. A coquettish person of either sex, a flirt (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 157).
[Orig. uncertain, phs. the same word as Tove, v.1, n.1, though the semantic development is not clear. But cf. Tove, v.1, 5., n.1, 1.]
