roust

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

roust¹

  • /ɹaʊst/

Rhymes with -aʊst

Where it comes from

1650s, variant of rouse, possibly influenced by rout.

verb rousts · rousting · rousted

  1. transitive to rout out of bed; to rouse. "Why didn't you roust me out?" / "Well, I tried to, but I couldn't; I couldn't budge you." / "Well, all right. Don't stand there palavering all day, but out with you and see if there's a fish on the lines for breakfast. I'll be along in a minute."
  2. informal, transitive To harass, to treat in a rough way. My client is an ex-convict. He's been constantly harassed by the police... subjected to extreme mental cruelty and public degradation. He's even been denied an adequate place to live! To be very blunt, gentlemen, my client has been thoroughly rousted.
  3. slang, transitive To arrest.
  4. transitive To drive strongly.

Similar: knock up

roust²

Where it comes from

From Old Norse rǫst (“current, stream in the sea”).

noun rousts · roost · rost

  1. A strong tide or current, especially in a narrow channel. At the north point of this island, called Ska, goes a very rapid current; like the Roust of Sumburghead

Talk about this word