Re*cruit", n. 1. A
supply of anything wasted or exhausted; a
reënforcement.
The state is to have recruits to its strength,
and remedies to its distempers.
Burke.
2. Specifically, a man enlisted for service in
the army; a newly enlisted soldier.
Re*cruit", v. i. 1.
To gain new supplies of anything wasted; to gain health, flesh,
spirits, or the like; to recuperate; as, lean cattle recruit in
fresh pastures.
2. To gain new supplies of men for military or
other service; to raise or enlist new soldiers; to enlist
troops.
Re*cruit" (r?*kr?t"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Recruited; p. pr. & vb.
n. Recruiting.] [F. recruter, corrupted (under
influence of recrue recruiting, recruit, from
recroî/tre, p. p. recrû, to grow again) from
an older recluter, properly, to patch, to mend (a garment);
pref. re- + OF. clut piece, piece of cloth; cf. Icel.
klūtr kerchief, E. clout.] 1.
To repair by fresh supplies, as anything wasted; to remedy lack
or deficiency in; as, food recruits the flesh; fresh air and
exercise recruit the spirits.
Her cheeks glow the brighter, recruiting their
color.
Glanvill.
2. Hence, to restore the wasted vigor of; to
renew in strength or health; to reinvigorate.
3. To supply with new men, as an army; to fill
up or make up by enlistment; as, he recruited two regiments;
the army was recruited for a campaign; also, to muster; to
enlist; as, he recruited fifty men. M.
Arnold.