Rove (rōv), v. t. [perhaps fr. or akin to reeve.] 1. To draw through an eye or aperture.
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2. To draw out into flakes; to card, as wool. Jamieson.
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3. To twist slightly; to bring together, as slivers of wool or cotton, and twist slightly before spinning.
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Rove, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Roved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Roving.] [Cf. D. rooven to rob; akin to E. reave. See Reave, Rob.] 1. To practice robbery on the seas; to wander about on the seas in piracy. [Obs.] Hakluyt.
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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.
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For who has power to walk has power to rove. Arbuthnot.
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3. (Archery) To shoot at rovers; hence, to shoot at an angle of elevation, not at point-blank (rovers usually being beyond the point-blank range).
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Fair Venus' son, that with thy cruel dart
At that good knight so cunningly didst rove. Spenser.
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Syn. -- To wander; roam; range; ramble stroll.
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Rove, n. The act of wandering; a ramble.
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In thy nocturnal rove one moment halt. Young.
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Rove beetle (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of beetles of the family Staphylinidæ, having short elytra beneath which the wings are folded transversely. They are rapid runners, and seldom fly.
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