rout

Definitions

1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
6. 6.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.
7. 7.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.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "rout" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is rout.

• What is 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 called?
• What is 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 called?