What does roust mean?
Roust is an uncommon English word with two historical strands. As a verb, it means to rouse or stir something into action, most characteristically to drive a hunted animal from cover so it can be seen or pursued. In modern use, roust can also mean to force a person out of bed, often abruptly, or more generally to awaken or provoke a response. Its hunting sense is specialized, while its broader uses sound literary, archaic, or regional. The noun roust, now obsolete, denotes a noisy crowd or mob and belongs to an older word family involving rout. For a general reader, the useful distinction is that roust emphasizes setting something in motion—often from concealment or sleep—whereas rouse is the more familiar, general term. Knowing roust adds a vivid piece of hunting and historical vocabulary, but it should not be substituted for rouse in ordinary modern prose without regard to tone.
To rouse or stir something, especially to drive a hunted animal from cover; also to force someone out of bed.
"The dogs quickly rousted the fox from its den."
The hunting sense is the best-known specialized use. Outside hunting contexts, the verb is uncommon and may sound literary or archaic.
An obsolete term for a crowd or mob, especially a noisy or disorderly one.
"The riotous roust filled the square."
The plural is grammatically formed as rousts, but the noun is obsolete and rarely encountered in contemporary use.
"The chronicle describes noisy rousts gathering in the streets."
A hunter's word for making the hidden break cover.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does roust come from?
The verb roust developed through Scots and northern English usage of rouse, meaning “to awaken or stir up,” a word related to arouse. In hunting, roust came to mean driving an animal from its cover. The rare or obsolete noun roust, meaning “a noisy crowd or mob,” is associated with the older rout word meaning a company or troop, which came through Old French.
Related word forms
How roust is actually used
Roust is relatively uncommon in general modern English. Its hunting sense remains specialized, while broader uses can sound archaic, regional, or deliberately literary.
Easily confused with roust
Rouse is the more common and general verb for awakening or stirring someone or something, whereas roust is especially associated with driving game from cover.