Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RI'OT, n. [Norm. riotti; It. riotta; Fr. riote, a brawl or tumult. The W. broth, brwth, commotion, may be from the same root, with a prefix, which would connect this word with brydian, brydiaw, to heat, to boil. The Spanish has alboroto, and Port. alvoroto, in a like sense. In Danish, rutter is to drink hard, to riot. The primary sense is probably noise or agitation.]

1. In a general sense, tumult; uproar; hence technically, in law, a riotous assembling of twelve persons or more, and not dispersing upon proclamation. – Blackstone. The definition of riot, must depend on the laws. In Connecticut, the assembling of three persons or more, to do an unlawful act by violence against the person or property of another, and not dispersing upon proclamation, is declared to be a riot. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the number necessary to constitute a riot is twelve.
2. Uproar; wild and noisy festivity. – Milton.
3. Excessive and expensive feasting. – 2 Pet. ii.
4. Luxury. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day. – Pope. To run riot, to act or move without control or restraint. – Swift.