/ baʊt; NAmE / noun
1.
bout (of sth / of doing sth) a short period of great activity; a short period during which there is a lot of a particular thing, usually sth unpleasant :
a drinking bout
the latest bout of inflation
2.
bout (of sth) an attack or period of illness :
a severe bout of flu / coughing
He suffered occasional bouts of depression.
( NAmE )
a bout with the flu
3.
a boxing or wrestling match
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (denoting a curve or circuit, hence later a “turn” of activity): from dialect bought bend, loop ; probably of Low German origin.