1889. Leland, in S. J. & C, s.v. Rovers. . . . Young and good-looking women who go into brokers' shops, law-offices, stores, . . . many employed by churches, hospitals, &c.; others are cheats, who have many ingenious devices to obtain money. . . . Also largely employed 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. Prompt. Parv., 437. Robare . . . yn the see (rovare, or thef of the se).
d. 1512. Fabyan, Chronicle, 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.
1715. South, Sermons [Century]. Providence never shoots at rovers.
d. 1765. Pocock, Desc. of East, II. i. 51. The Maltese rovers take away every thing that is valuable both from Turks and Christians.
1827. Cooper, Red rover, ii. The ship of that notorious pirate, the Red Rover.
3. (common).—In pl. = the thoughts (Jamieson).
Row, subs. (originally University: now general).—1. A disturbance; a shindy (q.v.); boisterous talk: also rowing: hence (2) a mob (Univ.). Whence rowing-man (ow as ough in 'bough') = a spreester (q.v.). Also as verb. = (1) to abuse; to create a disturbance (see quot. 1825); to get into a row = to get into trouble; [Grose: s.v. Rout, 'shortened into row, Cambridge slang.']
1794. Gent. Mag., 1085. And was very near rustication [at Cambridge], merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party.
1820. Byron [to Mr. Murray, 20 May]. Tell [Campbell] all this, and let him take it in good part; for I might have rammed it into a review and rowed him.
1823. Hints for Oxford, 6. Faultless and frowning beings, who must needs be ever rowing you at lecture.
1825. English Spy, I. 158 [Note, 'Oxford.'] Rowing a fellow—going with a party in the dead of night to a man's room, nailing or screwing his oak up, so as it cannot be opened on the inside, knocking at his door, calling out fire, and when he comes to the door, burning a quantity of shavings . . . to impress him with the idea that the staircase . . . is on fire. And when he is frightened almost out of his senses, setting up a most hideous horse-laugh and running away.
1826. Croker [Croker Papers, i. 331]. Where there was a smart young waiter, whom, however, these two English-*men used to row exceedingly.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., i. 35. Next morning there was a great row about it.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in Eng. Univ. More disposed to rowing than reading.
1864. Eton School Days, 11. Chudleigh was going to speak . . . when Chorley cried, Hold your row, will you?
1883. Punch, 11 August, 72, 2. My sire will row me vigorously, My mother sore complain.
1889. Time, Aug., 149. I have a reminiscence of rowing her for growing as tall as myself. Ibid., 151. He rows her so fearful that Kitty thinks he'll be sure to desert her now.
The Row, subs. phr. (common).—1. Rotten Row, Hyde Park; and (2) Paternoster Row (booksellers').
1812. Combe, Syntax, Picturesque, c. xxiii. 'Tis not confined, we all must know, To vulgar tradesmen in the Row.
1879. Dickens, Dict. of London, s.v. Bond Street. Those who would see the lounger of the present day must look for him in the Row.
