route

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. [1913 Webster]

And ever he rode the hinderest of the route. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

A rout of people there assembled were. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

2. A disorderly and tumultuous crowd; a mob; hence, the rabble; the herd of common people. [1913 Webster]

the endless routs of wretched thralls. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The ringleader and head of all this rout. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Nor do I name of men the common rout. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

thy army . . . Dispersed in rout, betook them all to fly. --Daniel. [1913 Webster]

To these giad conquest, murderous rout to those. --pope. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

5. A fashionable assembly, or large evening party. ``At routs and dances.'' --Landor. [1913 Webster]

{To put to rout}, to defeat and throw into confusion; to overthrow and put to flight. [1913 Webster]