3. To twist slightly; to bring together, as slivers of wool or cotton,
and twist slightly before spinning.
Rove (rv), n. 1. A copper washer upon which the end of a nail is
clinched in boat building.
2. A roll or sliver of wool or cotton drawn out and slighty twisted,
preparatory to further process; a roving.
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.
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.
For who has power to walk has power to rove.
Arbuthnot.
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).
Fair Venus' son, that with thy cruel dart At that good knight so
cunningly didst rove.
Spenser.
Syn. -- To wander; roam; range; ramble stroll.
Rove, v. t. 1. To wander over or through.
Roving the field, I chanced A goodly tree far distant to behold.
milton.