I. ˈrət noun
Etymology: Middle English rutte, from Middle French ruit rut, disturbance, from Late Latin rugitus roar, from Latin rugire to roar; akin to Middle Irish rucht roar, Old Church Slavic rŭžati to neigh
Date: 15th century
1. : an annually recurrent state of sexual excitement in the male deer ; broadly : sexual excitement in a mammal especially when periodic
2. : the period during which rut normally occurs — often used with the
II. intransitive verb
( rut·ted ; rut·ting )
Date: circa 1625
: to be in or enter into a state of rut
III. noun
Etymology: perhaps modification of Middle French route way, route
Date: 1552
1.
a. : a track worn by a wheel or by habitual passage
b. : a groove in which something runs
c. : channel , furrow
2. : a usual or fixed practice ; especially : a monotonous routine
fall easily into a conversational rut
IV. transitive verb
( rut·ted ; rut·ting )
Date: 1607
: to make a rut in : furrow