drover
(ˈdrəʊvə(r))
Also 5 drovare (Sc. dravere), 6–7 drovier.
[f. drove n. + -er1 1: cf. gardener, miller.]
1. One who drives droves of cattle, sheep, etc., esp. to distant markets; a dealer in cattle.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxiv. 53 The Dravere he gert, and oþir ma be examynyd, þat swne þa Tald hym, þat þe Carle þame stall. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 585/10 Fugarius, a dryvere or a drovare. 1552 Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI, c. 14 §13 Counties where Drovers have bene wonte..to buy Cattell. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 201, Cl. I wish him ioy of her. B. Why that's spoken like an honest Drouier: so they sel Bullockes. 1683 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 254 A quarrell between some gentlemen..and a drover of sheep by Temple Bar. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. III. 59 A little wayside alehouse..much frequented by drovers. |
† b. fig. A dealer, trafficker. Obs.
| 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 237 Having entered the temple, he findeth there..drovers and brokers making sale. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. iv. ii. 1763 The yong drouer of liuings..that haunts steeple faires. |
2. A boat used for fishing with a drift-net.
(Quot. 1465 is doubtful, although rendered ‘drover’ in Bolton and later edd. of Irish statutes.)
| 1465 Stat. Roll Ireland 5 Edw. IV, Art. 39 [c. 6 §1] Toutz maners vessels..del portage de xii tonelx ou desuys eiauntz une drower ou lawer [1621 Bolton's transl. All maner vessels..of the burden of twelve tunnes or lesse, having one Drover or Boate]. 1584–5 Pat. Roll Ireland 27 Eliz., Every boate or drover that shall fysshe hearing within the liberties of the said Towne. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. viii. 22 He woke And saw his drover drive along the streame. 1603 Owen Pembrokesh. (1891) 122 The order of takeinge them [herrings] is with Drovers. 1880 W. Cornwall Gloss., Drover, a fishing-boat employed in driving, or fishing with drift or float nets. |
¶ Erroneously for drogher.
| 1756 P. Browne Jamaica 23 His goods must be shipped on board of some drover. |
Hence (from sense 1) ˈdrovering, ˈdrovership (nonce-wds.), the business or occupation of a drover.
| 1838 Fraser's Mag. XVIII. 381 Far better..have taken to ploughmanship or drovership. 1860 J. F. Campbell Tales of W. Highlands (1890) I. 338 It was at drovering they had made the money. |