Rout, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Routed; p. pr. & vb. n. Routing.]
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.
Syn. -- To defeat; discomfit; overpower; overthrow.
6 other Webster entries under this spelling
Rout (rout), v. i.
To roar; to bellow; to snort; to snore loudly. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer.
Rout, n.
A bellowing; a shouting; noise; clamor; uproar; disturbance; tumult. Shak. This new book the whole world makes such a rout about. Sterne. "My child, it is not well," I said, "Among the graves to shout; To laugh and play among the dead, And make this noisy rout." Trench.
Rout, v. t.
To scoop out with a gouge or other tool; to furrow. To rout out (a) To turn up to view, as if by rooting; to discover; to find. (b) To turn out by force or compulsion; as, to rout people out of bed. [Colloq.]
Rout, v. i.
To search or root in the ground, as a swine. Edwards.
Rout, n.
[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. And ever he rode the hinderest of the route. Chaucer. A rout of people there assembled were. Spenser.
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. 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. (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. 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.
Rout, v. i.
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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for rout; he lists it under conquer.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.