subs. (American).—1. See quot.
1889. BARRÈRE and LELAND, A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant, s.v. ROVERS … women, often young and good-looking, who go into brokers’ shops, law-offices, stores…. Many of them are really employed by churches, hospitals, &c., others are cheats, who have many ingenious devices to obtain money…. Women also largely employ the ‘collection dodge’ for purposes of intrigue.
2. (old).—A pirate; a freebooter (formerly: now recognised) a ‘wanderer; a vagabond.’—B. E., GROSE. Also (B. E.) TO RUN (or SHOOT) AT ROVERS = ‘to run wild, to act at random.’
1440. Promptorium Parvulorum, 437. Robare … yn the see (ROVARE, or thef of the se).
d. 1513. FABYAN, The New Chronicles of England and of France, 359. The best men of ye cytie by thyse ryotous persones were spoyled and robbid; and by the ROUERS also of ye see.
1611. Bible, 1 Chron. xii. 21. And they helped David against the band of the ROVERS.
1684–5. SOUTH, Sermons, I. 300. Providence never SHOOTS AT ROVERS.
1743–5. R. POCOCKE, A Description of the East, II. i. 51. The Maltese ROVERS take away every thing that is valuable both from Turks and Christians.
1827. COOPER, The Red ROVER, ii. The ship of that notorious pirate, the Red ROVER.
3. (common).—In pl. = the thoughts (JAMIESON).
