DROVE, preterit tense of drive. DROVE, noun 1. A collection of cattle driven; a number of animals, as oxen, sheep or swine, driven in a body. We speak of a herd of cattle, and a flock of sheep, when a number is collected; but properly a drove is a herd or flock driven. It is applicable to any species of brutes. Hence, 2. Any collection of irrational animals, moving or driving forward; as a finny drove 3. A crowd of people in motion. Where droves, as at a city gate, may pass. 4. A road for driving cattle. [English.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI