A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1562, 1637-1664
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Roving, vbl. n. Also: roav-. [Rove v.] a. To have roving, to move about freely; to go unchecked. b. fig., also transf. and attrib. The action of moving here and there, with no set purpose; wandering. c. Wandering of the mind; raving. —a. 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 4.
Sic grosse and grevous synnis and offencis as presentlie regnis and hes roving in this toun … vnpunischeit —b. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 184.
Such are the rovings of our miscarrying hearts 1637 Ib. 301.
In my rovings and mistakings, my Lord Jesus bestowed mercy on me —transf. and attrib. 1659 A. Hay Diary 49.
This was a roving day in much discourse —c. 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 48.
And the judge will passe over thy roaving and distempers, he will not take advantage of thy distracting thoughts
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"Roving vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/roving>
