ROUT

n. & v. --n. 1 a disorderly retreat of defeated troops. 2 a an assemblage or company esp. of revellers or rioters. b Law an assemblage of three or more persons who have made a move towards committing an illegal act. 3 riot, tumult, disturbance, clamour, fuss. 4 Brit. archaic a large evening party or reception. --v.tr. put to rout. øput to rout put to flight, defeat utterly. [ME f. AF rute, OF route ult. f. L ruptus broken]