rut¹ / rət/ • n. a long deep track made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles. ∎ fig. a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change: the administration was stuck in a rut and was losing its direction.DERIVATIVES: rut·ted adj.rut·ty adj.rut² • n. (the rut) an annual period of sexual activity in deer and some other mammals, during which the males fight each other for access to the females.• v. (rut·ted, rut·ting) [intr.] [often as adj.] (rutting) engage in such activity: a rutting stag.DERIVATIVES: rut·tish adj.

rut2 track made in soft ground. XVI (early forms also ro(o)te, rupt). prob. — OF. rote, early form of ROUTE.

rut1 sexual excitement of male deer, etc. XV. — (O)F. rut, †ruit rutting (time), †bellowing (of stags):- Rom. *rūgitus, for L. rugītus, f. rugīre roar, f. *ru-, of imit. orig.