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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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