crim. law. A disturbance of the peace by persons assembled together with an intention to do a thing, which, if executed, would have made them rioters, and actually making a motion towards the execution of their purpose. 2. It generally agrees in all particulars with a riot, except only in this, that it may be a complete offence without the execution of the intended enterprise.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
A rout is an unlawful assembly which has made a motion towards the execution of the common purpose of the persons assembled. It is, therefore, between an unlawful asembly and a riot. Steph. Crim. Dig. 41. Whenever two or more persons, assembled and acting together, make any attempt or advancer toward , the commission of an act which would he a riot if actually committed, such assembly is a rout.