The preterite hof occurs ab. 1000. (N.E.D.)
1770. The ice is computed to be 40 Feet thick, hove one upon the top of another.—Letter from “Bowdointown at Eastward,” Mass. Gazette, Feb. 12.
1794. The man hove a shovel of dirt at Mr. Flood’s head.—Mass. Spy, April 16.
1845. “What’s the matter, John?” “Why, Sam hove a bible at me, and hit my head.”—Nauvoo Neighbor, July 23.
1849. I hove a man clean across that river t’other day.—Frontier Guardian, June 27.
1857. She hove a stone clear over our fence yesterday.—Knick. Mag., l. 105 (July).
