Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ROUT, n.¹ [G. rotte, D. rot, Dan. rode, a set, gang, rabble; Dan. rotter, G. rotten, to combine together, to plot; D. rotten, to assemble, and to rot; W. rhawter, a crowd; Fr. ruta, a herd. Qu. from the root of crowd, or from breaking, bursting, noise.]

1. A rabble; a clamorous multitude; a tumultuous crowd; as, a rout of people assembled. The endless routs of wretched thralls. Spenser.
2. In law, a rout is where three persons or more meet to do an unlawful act upon a common quarrel, as forcibly to break down fences on a right claimed of common or of way, and make some advances toward it. Blackstone.
3. A select company; a party for gaming.