Rout
(Rout), v. i. To search or root in the ground, as a swine. Edwards.
Rout
(Rout), n. [OF. route, LL. rupta, properly, a breaking, fr. L. ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to break.
See Rupture, reave, and cf. Rote repetition of forms, Route. In some senses this word has been
confused with rout a bellowing, an uproar.] [Formerly spelled also route.]
1. A troop; a throng; a company; an assembly; especially, a traveling company or throng. [Obs.] "A route
of ratones [rats]." Piers Plowman. "A great solemn route." Chaucer.
And ever he rode the hinderest of the route.
Chaucer.
A rout of people there assembled were.
Spenser. 2. A disorderly and tumultuous crowd; a mob; hence, the rabble; the herd of common people.
the endless routs of wretched thralls.
Spenser.
The ringleader and head of all this rout.
Shak.
Nor do I name of men the common rout.
Milton. 3. The state of being disorganized and thrown into confusion; — said especially of an army defeated,
broken in pieces, and put to flight in disorder or panic; also, the act of defeating and breaking up an army; as,
the rout of the enemy was complete.
thy army . . .
Dispersed in rout, betook them all to fly.
Daniel.
To these giad conquest, murderous rout to those.
pope. 4. (Law) A disturbance of the peace by persons assembled together with intent to do a thing which, if
executed, would make them rioters, and actually making a motion toward the executing thereof. Wharton.
5. A fashionable assembly, or large evening party. "At routs and dances." Landor.
To put to rout, to defeat and throw into confusion; to overthrow and put to flight.
Rout
(Rout), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Routed; p. pr. & vb. n. Routing.] To break the ranks of, as troops,
and put them to flight in disorder; to put to rout.
That party . . . that charged the Scots, so totally routed and defeated their whole army, that they fied.
Clarendon. Syn. — To defeat; discomfit; overpower; overthrow.
Rout
(Rout), v. i. To assemble in a crowd, whether orderly or disorderly; to collect in company. [obs.]
Bacon.
In all that land no Christian[s] durste route.
Chaucer. Route
(Route) n. [OE. & F. route, OF. rote, fr. L. rupta (sc. via), fr. ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to
break; hence, literally, a broken or beaten way or path. See Rout, and cf. Rut a track.] The course or
way which is traveled or passed, or is to be passed; a passing; a course; a road or path; a march.
Wide through the furzy field their route they take.
Gay.
