To take to the road

Road Road (r[=o]), n. [AS. r[=a]d a riding, that on which one rides or travels, a road, fr. r[=i]dan to ride. See {Ride}, and cf. {Raid}.] 1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

With easy roads he came to Leicester. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

3. A place where one may ride; an open way or public passage for vehicles, persons, and animals; a track for travel, forming a means of communication between one city, town, or place, and another. [1913 Webster]

The most villainous house in all the London road. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: The word is generally applied to highways, and as a generic term it includes highway, street, and lane. [1913 Webster]

4. [Possibly akin to Icel. rei[eth]i the rigging of a ship, E. ready.] A place where ships may ride at anchor at some distance from the shore; a roadstead; -- often in the plural; as, Hampton Roads. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners, For we be come unto a quiet rode [road]. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

{On the road}, or {Uponthe road}, traveling or passing over a road; coming or going; traveling; on the way. [1913 Webster]

My hat and wig will soon be here, They are upon the road. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

{Road agent}, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.] [1913 Webster]

The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly called. --The century. [1913 Webster]

{Road book}, a guidebook in respect to roads and distances.

{road kill} See {roadkill} in the vocabulary.

{Road metal}, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads.

{Road roller}, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers, for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and compact. -- often driven by steam.

{Road runner} (Zo["o]l.), the chaparral cock.

{Road steamer}, a locomotive engine adapted to running on common roads.

{To go on the road}, to engage in the business of a commercial traveler. [Colloq.]

{To take the road}, to begin or engage in traveling.

{To take to the road}, to engage in robbery upon the highways. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage; course. See {Way}. [1913 Webster]