bout / bout/ • n. 1. a short period of intense activity of a specified kind: occasional bouts of strenuous exercise. ∎  an attack of illness or strong emotion of a specified kind: a severe bout of flu. ∎  a wrestling or boxing match.2. a curve in the side of a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument.

bout †circuit; (dial.) length of a furrow and back again; round of exercise, fighting. XVI. var. of †bought (XV) bend, fold, turn, prob. — LG. bucht (see BIGHT); assoc. with bout, aphetic form of ABOUT.