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.
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            and ever he rode the hinderest of the route.
                                                  --chaucer.
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            a rout of people there assembled were. --spenser.
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   2. a disorderly and tumultuous crowd; a mob; hence, the
      rabble; the herd of common people.
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            the endless routs of wretched thralls. --spenser.
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            the ringleader and head of all this rout. --shak.
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            nor do i name of men the common rout. --milton.
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   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.
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            thy army . . .
            dispersed in rout, betook them all to fly. --daniel.
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            to these giad conquest, murderous rout to those.
                                                  --pope.
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   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.
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   5. a fashionable assembly, or large evening party. "at routs
      and dances." --landor.
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   to put to rout, to defeat and throw into confusion; to
      overthrow and put to flight.
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see also:
rupture reave rote route route to put to rout