From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Route \Route\ (r[=oo]t or rout; 277), n. [OE. & F. route, OF.
rote, fr. L. rupta (sc. via), fr. ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to
break; hence, literally, a broken or beaten way or path. See
Rout, and cf. Rut a track.]
The course or way which is traveled or passed, or is to be
passed; a passing; a course; a road or path; a march.
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Wide through the furzy field their route they take.
--Gay.
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