Does 'rove' only mean 'scab' in Suffolk?

[Bob briscoe]

Only 3 of the 5 of us sitting here together know that a rove is another word for a scab (the crust that forms over a cut in your skin). And the 3 of us are all from Suffolk. Does rove mean scab anywhere else, or only in Suffolk? It took us ages before we found it anywhere on the Web, until we found it in this 1823 book of Suffolk words and phrases.

I pronounce it 'roove', but the other two pronounce it rove. That might be just the way my Mum used to say it, like a Suffolk person might pronounce 'rose' as 'roose'.

[Mike in Cumbria]

I've never heard it in Yorkshire, Scotland or Cumbria.

[Mike in Cumbria]

Rove: A scabby, scaly, or scurfy condition of the skin. Obs.a 1400 Stockholm Med. ... y am shoue, And brouȝt abbas from al astat; My skyn is cloşed al on roue.b. A scab; the scaly crust of a healed or healing wound.1590 P. Barrough Meth

[groom]

Not heard it here in SE England either.

[Mike in Cumbria]

The English Dialect Dictionary 1898, by Joseph Wright has it pegged as an East Anglian word, along with Rovy for scabby.

He gives the Old Norse word Hrufa as the source. 


http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kpg/

[Bob briscoe]

The English Dialect Dictionary 1898, by Joseph Wright has it pegged as an East Anglian word, along with Rovy for scabby.

My wife's from Essex and has never heard it. Perhaps it's more Suffolk/Norfolk? Anyone from Essex heard it before?

[Greensleeves]

I was born in Ipswich and I can confirm that 'rove' is used in Suffolk for 'scab' - I've only ever heard it used in Suffolk so it probably hasn't travelled much.

Regards
GS

[essexpoet]

Both me and my wife come North Essex (not far from the Suffolk border) and have never heard of the word - but then it is not one that would often crop up in general conversation.

Mike

[robesur]

I also originate from North Essex but lived in Suffolk for many years and have never heard this word.  My mother in  Law was Suffolk born and bred and never used it, however this was West Suffolk, Bury area so perhaps it is confined to the Ipswich East Suffolk area.