Noah Webster
Drove
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.]