rut

¹

[ruht]

noun

1. a furrow or track in the ground, especially one made by the passage of a vehicle or vehicles.

2. any furrow, groove, etc.

3. a fixed or established mode of procedure or course of life, usually dull or unpromising.

   to fall into a rut.

verb (used with object)

rutted, rutting 

1. to make a rut or ruts in; furrow.

rut

²

[ruht]

noun

1. the periodically recurring sexual excitement of the deer, goat, sheep, etc.

verb (used without object)

rutted, rutting 

1. to be in the condition of rut.

rut

¹

/ rʌt /

noun

1. a groove or furrow in a soft road, caused by wheels

2. any deep mark, hole, or groove

3. a narrow or predictable way of life, set of attitudes, etc; dreary or undeviating routine (esp in the phrase in a rut )

verb

1. (tr) to make a rut or ruts in

rut

²

/ rʌt /

noun

1. a recurrent period of sexual excitement and reproductive activity in certain male ruminants, such as the deer, that corresponds to the period of oestrus in females

2. another name for oestrus

verb

1. (intr) (of male ruminants) to be in a period of sexual excitement and activity

Word History and Origins

Origin of rut¹

First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps variant of route

Origin of rut²

1375–1425; late Middle English rutte < Middle French rut, ruit < Late Latin rugītus a roaring, equivalent to Latin rugī ( re ) to roar + -tus suffix of v. action

Word History and Origins

Origin of rut¹

C16: probably from French route road

Origin of rut²

C15: from Old French rut noise, roar, from Latin rugītus , from rugīre to roar

Idioms and Phrases

see in a rut.

Example Sentences

To successfully draw enemy fire, it helps to faithfully recreate a real position complete with wheel ruts, ammunition crates and toilets.

From BBC

A red deer stag bellows during the autumn rut at Bradgate Park, as captured by Miss Smart from a safe distance.

From BBC

"There's so much going on in the world that it's very easy to just get stuck in that rut and get stuck in your own little bubble because it feels safer," he says.

From BBC

A few weeks ago, I picked up “The Book of Greens: A Cook’s Compendium,” hoping to claw my way out of what the author, Jenn Louis, diagnosed as a “three-green rut.”

From Salon

Over the last nine games, however, the offense has come to a screeching halt — serving as the biggest problem in their current 3-6 rut.

From Los Angeles Times