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

[essexpoet]

It is not in the list of Suffolk /Essex words and phrases on the foxearth.org.uk website.

It sounds the sort of word that would be said in the lovely soft accent provailing around the Beccles to Lowestoft area, especially if pronounced roove.

Mike

[Bob briscoe]

To be a little more scientific about this, of the 6 of us who are holidaying together at the mo, the 3 who were brought up on rove were born around the late 1950s / early 1960s and our parents were respectively from Framlingham, Leiston and the Nacton/Gainsborough area of Ipswich.

The parents of the 3 who have never heard of it are from South Essex, Cornwall and Stoke.

[Greensleeves]

Whilst I was born in Ipswich, I didn't live there until the 1960s.  My mother came from Brettenham, Suffolk and none of my relations on her side of the family ever used the word 'rove', although they did know what it meant, I'm sure.  However, nearly all the people I became friends with in my teenage years, who were born in the Nacton/Gainsborough area of Ipswich,  did use that word - which seems to coincide neatly with what you say, Bob.  I lived all over the UK as a child (my father was in the RAF) and I never heard it used anywhere else.

[sharonmx5]

My parents came from different sides of Ipswich and we always used the word rove without exception.  Often used in our house after playing out in the street in dresses and shorts, our knees were always covered in them!

[Borley Manor]

I came from Ipswich, 1951, and I thought it was a national word for scab, I have always used it in that context, little knowing it was quite possibly a local word..... My mum often said "Stop picking that rove, it will get poisonous".

[Rogier]

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

Same here!  Learnt through much contact with grandparents as child

[medpat]

Never heard it used in the East or West Midlands.

[Greensleeves]

Following on from this, I noticed recently on a Suffolk discussion board, on another site,  a query as to whether "on the huh" (ie crooked or wonky) was a Suffolk saying.  It had never occurred to me that it might be confined to my home county.  I still use the phrase, although I now live in Wales.  So my question is - has  'on the huh' travelled, or do the locals here wonder what on earth I'm talking about?   

[Mike in Cumbria]

Never heard of that, so I guess the locals are just quietly shaking their heads and muttering under their breath.