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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rout, Rowt, v.¹ Also: route, rowte; rut. [ME and e.m.E. rowte(n (c1300), rote (Cath. Angl.) to bellow, roar, also rute (Cursor M.), route, rowte (14th c.) to make a loud noise, resound (of the elements), also route, rowte (14th c.) to snore, ON rauta, rjóta to roar (of a lion, bear, etc.), also (h)rjóta to snore.] intr.

1. Of oxen, bulls, etc.: To low, bellow. Also proverb. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 151.
The beistis … Rumist and routit, that hidduis was till heir 1513 Doug. viii iv 73.
The catal gan to rowtyng cry and rar 1533 Bell. Livy I 23/11.
The ky … lowit [v.r. rowtit] agane on the samyn maner a1605 Montg. Flyt. 521 (T).
Quhill the ky in the cuntrie … rairing ran rid wood, rowtand in a rane c1590 J. Stewart 88/308.
And monie flokis … Sum routting loud, and sum did semplie blait 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Mugio, to rowt like a nowt 1649 Sc. N. & Q. III 123.
[The cow] rowted all night without ceasing 1662 Crim. Trials III 604.
Ther wes elf-bullis rowtting and skoylling wp and downe thair 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 250.
Ye heard a young calf crying; you said what ailled the calf to routproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 855.
I rather hear my awin cow rout in the lown

b. Of other animals, or monsters. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 406.
The beist … wantis hir birth … And findis it deid than scho dois rout and rair c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5468.
Gret quhalis sall rummeis, rowte and rair 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 41.
Beists of diuers kynds … rowting Into that storme 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 138/490.
Then fraifull Hydre and Cerbere als … doth bark … And route doth euermore

2. Of a person: a. To cry out loudly. Also fig. b. To snore.a. c1420 Wynt. iii 953.
To rare Swa that he like wes in to rowt In tyll his dede thrawe till a nowtefig. c1590 Fowler I 56/247.
I also know how lowe dois bray and rout abowe the myndb. 1375 Barb. vii 192.
His man … fell in slep and rowtyt [C. routit] hey a1400 Leg. S. xlvi 226.
Sa the prefet … Fast routand fel on slepyng c1420 Wynt. iii 102.
Scho … tuk kepe, Quhill he was rowtand fast on slepe

3. a. Of the elements, as sea, wind, etc.: To make a loud or roaring noise. b. Of rocks, etc.: To re-echo; to resound. c. fig. To jingle or rattle.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 926.
The se be-gane to rut 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 145.
This laithlie flude rumland as thonder routit [: schoutit] Id. Æn. i ii 64.
The firmament gan rummylling rair and rout [: about] Ib. ii ii 100.
The stormy clowdis our al the ayr gan rowt Ib. vii v 46.
Quhat proffittit me … the swelch is ay rowtand? Ib. ix 103.
Wallis [= waves] feill … Rowtand and rarand a1550 Tayis Bank 113.
The rever throw the ryse cowth rowt c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1429.
And wynd did rowt with sic ane reird c1590 J. Stewart 14/64.
As thunder throw the elements dois rout [: out]b. 1513 Doug. iii vi 146.
Forto … heir the craggis rowt and ȝell a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La. ii 319.
The rokis did rout and rarec. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 400.
Bot we wald speid far the bettir To gar our pursis rowt