Rover \Rov"er\, n. [D. roover a robber. See Rove, v. i.]

1. One who practices robbery on the seas; a pirate.

Yet Pompey the Great deserveth honor more justly for scouring the seas, and taking from the rovers 846 sail of ships. --Holland.

2. One who wanders about by sea or land; a wanderer; a rambler.

3. Hence, a fickle, inconstant person.

4. (Croquet) A ball which has passed through all the hoops and would go out if it hit the stake but is continued in play; also, the player of such a ball.

5. (Archery)
   (a) Casual marks at uncertain distances. --Encyc. Brit.
   (b) A sort of arrow. [Obs.]

All sorts, flights, rovers, and butt shafts. --B. Jonson.

At rovers, at casual marks; hence, at random; as, shooting at rovers. See def. 5
   (a) above. --Addison.

Bound down on every side with many bands because it shall not run at rovers. --Robynson (More's Utopia).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)