To take the road

Road \Road\ (r[=o]), n. [AS. r[=a]d a riding, that on which one
   rides or travels, a road, fr. r[imac]dan to ride. See {Ride},
   and cf. {Raid}.]
   1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [Obs.]
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            With easy roads he came to Leicester. --Shak.
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   2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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   3. A place where one may ride; an open way or public passage
      for vehicles, persons, and animals; a track for travel,
      forming a means of communication between one city, town,
      or place, and another.
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            The most villainous house in all the London road.
                                                  --Shak.
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   Note: The word is generally applied to highways, and as a
         generic term it includes highway, street, and lane.
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   4. [Possibly akin to Icel. rei[eth]i the rigging of a ship,
      E. ready.] A place where ships may ride at anchor at some
      distance from the shore; a roadstead; -- often in the
      plural; as, Hampton Roads. --Shak.
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            Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners,
            For we be come unto a quiet rode [road]. --Spenser.
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   {On the road}, or {Uponthe road}, traveling or passing over a
      road; coming or going; traveling; on the way.
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            My hat and wig will soon be here,
            They are upon the road.               --Cowper.
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   {Road agent}, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of
      the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a
      humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.]
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            The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly
            called.                               --The century.
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   {Road book}, a guidebook in respect to roads and distances.
      

   {road kill} See {roadkill} in the vocabulary.

   {Road metal}, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads.
      

   {Road roller}, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers,
      for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and
      compact. -- often driven by steam.

   {Road runner} (Zool.), the chaparral cock.

   {Road steamer}, a locomotive engine adapted to running on
      common roads.

   {To go on the road}, to engage in the business of a
      commercial traveler. [Colloq.]

   {To take the road}, to begin or engage in traveling.

   {To take to the road}, to engage in robbery upon the
      highways.
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   Syn: Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage;
        course. See {Way}.
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