bout

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A contest between antagonists; a match: a wrestling bout.
2. n. A period of time spent in a particular way; a spell: "His tremendous bouts of drinking had wrecked his health” ( Thomas Wolfe).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A turn, loop, coil, or knot, as in a rope or chain; a bend or flexure.
2. n. The part of a sling that contains the stone.
3. n. A going and returning, as in plowing, reaping, etc.; hence, as much of an action as is performed at one time; a single part of an action which is carried on at successive intervals.
4. n. A round at anything, as in some contest; a set-to; a trial: as, a bout at single-stick or fisticuffs.
5. n. A round of indulgence, as in drink: as, a drunken bout.
6. n. A turn or fit of illness: as, a severe bout of rheumatism.
7. n. In music, an inward curve of a rib of an instrument of the violin kind, by which the waist is formed.
8. Same as but.
9. About.

Wiktionary

1. n. An instance of something lasting a short period.
2. n. An attack (of an illness, etc).
3. n. An assault (a fencing encounter) at which the score is kept.
4. n. A bulge or widening in a musical instrument, such as either of the two characteristic bulges of a guitar.
5. n. The going and returning of a plough, or other implement used to mark the ground and create a headland, across a field.
6. prep. about

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. As much of an action as is performed at one time; a going and returning, as of workmen in reaping, mowing, etc.; a turn; a round.
2. n. A conflict; contest; attempt; trial; a set-to at anything.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an occasion for excessive eating or drinking
2. n. a contest or fight (especially between boxers or wrestlers)
3. n. (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
4. n. a period of illness