Rove \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Roving \Rov"ing\, n.

1. The operatin of forming the rove, or slightly twisted sliver or roll of wool or cotton, by means of a machine for the purpose, called a roving frame, or roving machine.

2. A roll or sliver of wool or cotton drawn out and slightly twisted; a rove. See 2d Rove, 2.

Roving frame, Roving machine, a machine for drawing and twisting roves and twisting roves and winding them on bobbin for the spinning machine.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Roving \Rov"ing\, n. The act of one who roves or wanders.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)