All 3 Uses of
rout
in
Moby Dick
Uses with a very common or rare meaning:
- The compact martial columns in which they had been hitherto rapidly and steadily swimming, were now broken up in one measureless rout; and like King Porus' elephants in the Indian battle with Alexander, they seemed going mad with consternation.†
Chpt 85-87
- Keeping at the centre of the lake, we were occasionally visited by small tame cows and calves; the women and children of this routed host.†
Chpt 85-87 *
- Whatever pale fears and forebodings some of them might have felt before; these were not only now kept out of sight through the growing awe of Ahab, but they were broken up, and on all sides routed, as timid prairie hares that scatter before the bounding bison.†
Chpt 133-135
Definition:
-
(meaning too common or rare to warrant focus) Rout has other common meanings such as to make a groove, dig, search, or find. In classic literature, it can have varied meanings including reference to a disorderly group of people or a large party. The British may use the word to describe the noise cows make. The word form routings may refer to the routes taken to get somewhere.