Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also dovey-lovey, lovey-dove, lovey-ducks, lovy) a term of endearment; also attrib.

1764		Foote Mayor of Garrat in Works (1799) I 169: mrs. sneak.: Go, get you gone out of my sight. sneak.: I go, lovy.
1841		‘The Prince’s Title’ in Cambridge Indep. Press 4 Dec. 4/2: Lovey-dovey has been spoken of; but it is not likely that His Royal Highness will assume the style and dignity of lovey-dovey for a considerable period .
1865		Belfast Morn. News 18 Sept. 4/3: They [must] immediately discard the name of Naggleton, and assume [...] the name of ‘Lovey-Dovey’.
1871		Chelmsford Chron. 17 Mar. 7/1: The formal ‘Madam, your obedient servant,’ before the detestable ‘Ever your Lovey Dovey’.
1888		Eve. Teleg. (Dundee) 11 Aug. 4/3: It shall be just as my own little lovey-dovey lifey-wifer says.
1893		Edinburgh Eve, News 18 Apr. 4/4: Lovey-dovey, rosy-posy, oh kernoodle do.
1900		Marvel 12 Dec. 1: If I had the money [...] I’d take you with me, lovey-dovey.
1917		D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox I 395: Come right along, my lovey-dovey dear.
1929		‘Henry Green’ Living (1978) 372: ’Ave a good cry, cry your ’eart out dovvy wovvy.
1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 69: Goodby lovey-ducks — tata pretty dear.
1939		‘Henry Green’ Party Going (1978) 473: Where are you Emily, my lovey-dove?
1956		Joe Clay ‘Jelly Bean’ 🎵 I said i love you lovey-dovey.

2. a young woman.

1884		Manchester Eve. News 11 Mar. 2/6: Alice (an innocent lovey-dovey with long eyelashes).
1908		Sun. Times (Perth) 1 Nov. 1/1: The buxom lovey-dovey who fled [...] with him is back in Victoria.

3. (also lovey, lovey-dove) one’s lover, partner.

1893		Edinburgh Eve. News 18 Apr. 2/6: What would you do, dear, if you heard that your ‘lovey-dovey’ was going to get married?
1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Jul. 14/2: [T]he girl has been taken from her home, and is not allowed to speak to her lovey-dovey.
1902		Ade Girl Proposition 117: The short-sighted Lothario sits alongside of his Lovey-Dove and tells her that she is the only one in the whole Patch.
1905		Kern & Laska [perf. Florrie Forde] How’d you like to spoon with me? 🎵 How’d you like to be my lovey-dovey? / How’d you like to spoon with me?
1914		Sport (Adelaide) 27 Feb. 6/5: They Say [...] Wear your glasses [...] Flo R., then your lovy dovy might know you.
1921		T. Thursday ‘Hail the Professor’ in Top-Notch 1 Sept. 🌐 As neat as the bungalow of a twenty-four-hour bride waiting the simp to come home to lovey.
1938		L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 183: ‘Look boys! Lovey duvvies’ ‘Garn, kiss ’er, mate.’.
1958		Everly Bros. ‘Bird Dog’ 🎵 Bird dog you better leave my lovey-dove alone.

4. (US, also love-dove) lovemaking, also as v.

1916		Eve. Teleg. (Dundee) 11 Aug. 3/7: Lovey-dovey in the lane.
1922		S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 61: She’ll be glad to know you’re out hustling, making some money to furnish the home-nest, instead of doing the lovey-dovey.
1928		R. Carr Rampant Age 194: Now I’m supposed to neck you, and you’ll neck me, and oh lovey dovey goo-goo.
1940		‘Digg Mee’ ‘Observation Post’ in N.Y. Age 29 June 10/4: Snap M. and Avon Foster were lovey-doveying too.
1948		(con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 284: Always that love-dove stuff.
1981		J. Bradner Danny Boy 56: I thought you said you were going to lovey-dovey me?
1998		(con. 1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 18: While this lovey-dovey was going on, I began to receive threatening letters against my life.
2012		Chief Keef ‘Kay Kay’ 🎵 I ain't with the lovey dovey / That’s why all these bitches love me.