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.
 5. A fashionable assembly, or large evening party. “At routs and dances.”
 To put to rout, to defeat and throw into confusion; to overthrow and put to flight.