Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hover, v. Also: hovir, hower, hoffer. [North. ME. hover (c 1400), perhaps an iterative derivative of Hove v.¹ Common in similar senses in mod. Sc. and (chiefly north. and north. midl.) Eng. dialects.]

1. intr. To remain stationary (on horseback or on foot), to wait; to come to a halt. = Hove v.¹ 1. c1450-2 Howlat 646.
[They] hufe, hover, and behald the herbery place a1500 Rauf C. 415.
He huit and he houerit quhill mid morne and mair 1513 Doug. i. v. 6.
Heich in the hevynnys top he [sc. Jupiter] baid hoverand Ib. xiii. viii. 62.
He … musyng hovirris styll on hir to se 1533 Boece vii. vi. 233.
Athir armye hoverit preparing for the feild

b. To pause, to tarry, in deliberation, uncertainty or indecision; to waver or hesitate. 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 72.
He hovirris all abasyt for dreid and feyr 1533 Boece viii. x. 273.
Occa … hoverit doutsum ane quhile a1578 Pitsc. II. 152/23.
To Tarbat mylne, quhair they stude and howert and tuik consall quhat was best to be done 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. ix.
Euin as the blind man gangs be ges, In houering far behynd

2. To be in suspense or indecision, to waver in an irresolute state. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2036.
Thai off Rome … howerand [C. hofferande] in gret dowte abade, Dredand sare that that menyhe Suld wyn … thare cyte Ib. 2351.
Ay thare intent Be that nowmyre wes hoverand And suddand casys abydand

3. Of a winged creature: To hover, remain suspended, in the air. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 51.
Sa com the dragoun … Fleand and hoverand vp and doun the hall

4. ? tr. To tarry near, outside or the like; or ? merely by scribal or editorial omission of a prep. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 300.
[They] come ... to the Burrowmure and by the merchis thairon quhair thaj hoverit the toun