rut

rut

rut¹ [rut]

n.

[< ? MFr route,ROUTE]

1. a groove, furrow, or track, esp. one made in the ground by the passage of wheeled vehicles

2. a fixed, routine course of action, thought, etc., esp. one regarded as monotonous

vt.

rutted, rutting

to make a rut or ruts in

rut² [rut]

n.

[ME rutte < OFr ruit < L rugitus, a roaring (as of deer in rut) < rugire, to roar < IE * reuk- < echoic base * reu-, to roar, cry hoarsely > OE ryn, OSlav rykati, to roar]

1. the periodic sexual excitement, or heat, of certain mammals: applied esp. to males, often specif. to those male ruminants in which it occurs once a year: cf. ESTRUS

2. the period during which this occurs

vi.

rutted, rutting

to be in rut