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).