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.