noun / verb

stampede

stam-PEED/stæmˈpiːd/

A sudden, panicked rush by a group of animals or people.

The frightened horses rush together in a dusty stampede.

A herd of horses suddenly rushes together across a dusty plain, frightened motion, no fallen animals.

Etymology

stampedeSpanishuproar; sudden flight of animals

Estampida meant an uproar or crash and was applied to a frightened herd’s sudden flight. English extended that animal rush to panicked crowds of people.

In context

Old Time Radio Researchers7:22

animals had been confined within the sanctuary since that escape was now possible and Tarzan and captain Lawrence barely managed to find refuge behind a large rock formation when the Stampede began

Tarzan Lord of the Jungle - Tarzan and the Long Journey

More examples

Frightened shoppers stampede toward the exits when the alarm sounds.
The barking dogs stampeded the horses across the field.
Several people lost their shoes in the stampede.

Forms

stampede · stampedes · stampeded · stampeding

Similar words

rush: Describes fast movement without necessarily implying fear or disorder.
flight: Emphasizes escape from danger rather than a group's sudden rush.