What is "to take to the road"

Road \Road\ (r[=o]), n. [AS. r[=a]d a riding, that on which one rides or travels, a road, fr. r[=i]dan to ride. See Ride, and cf. Raid.]

1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [Obs.]

   With easy roads he came to Leicester.
   --Shak.

2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.]
   --Spenser.

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.

   The most villainous house in all the London road.
   --Shak.

   Note: The word is generally applied to highways, and as a generic term it includes highway, street, and lane.

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.

   Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners, For we be come unto a quiet rode [road].
   --Spenser.

   On the road, or Uponthe road, traveling or passing over a road; coming or going; traveling; on the way.

   My hat and wig will soon be here, They are upon the road.
   --Cowper.

   Road agent, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.]

   The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly called.
   --The century.

   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 (Zo["o]l.), 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.

   Syn: Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage; course. See Way.