Rout

(40), n. [O. Fr. route, rote, troop, company, Pr. rota, L. Lat. rupta, ruttta, ruta, routa, rotta, from Lat. ruptus, rupta, p. p. of rumpere, to break; D. rot, M. H. Ger. rote, rotte, N. H. Ger. rotte, Prov. Ger. rod, rot-rott, Dan. rode.]

1Sense 1. A company of persons; a concourse. [Obs.] “He spied a rout of people.” Spenser.

2Sense 2. Hence, a fashionable assembly, or large evening party. “At routs and dances.” Landor.

3Sense 3. A clamorous multitude; a tumultuous crowd; a rabble; as, a rout of people assembled. “The endless routs of wretched thralls.” Spenser.

4Sense 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 execution thereof. Wharton. Roscoe.

5Sense 5. An uproar; a noise.

What of this new book the world makes such a rout about? Sterne.

“My child, it is not well,” I said, “Among the graves to shout; To laugh and play among the dead, And make this noisy rout.” Trench.

n. [O. Fr. route, N. Fr. déroute, Pr., Sp., & Pg. rota, It. rotta, a defeat, a breaking, from Lat. ruptus, rupta, p. p. of rumpere, to break. Cf. supra.] The breaking or defeat of an army or band of troops, or the disorder and confusion of troops thus defeated and put to flight.

Thy army, ... Dispersed in rout, betook them all to fly. Daniel.

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 defeat and throw into confusion.

That party of the king's horse that charged the Scots, so totally routed and defeated their whole army that they fled. (Clarendon.)

To rout out, to search thoroughly; to turn out.

Synonyms—To defeat; discomfit; beat; overpower; overthrow; conquer.

To assemble in a clamorous and tumultuous crowd. [Obs.] Bacon.

[Sax. hrutan.] To snore. [Obs.] Chaucer.