The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recruit \Re*cruit"\, v. i.
   1. To gain new supplies of anything wasted; to gain health,
      flesh, spirits, or the like; to recuperate; as, lean
      cattle recruit in fresh pastures.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To gain new supplies of men for military or other service;
      to raise or enlist new soldiers; to enlist troops.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recruit \Re*cruit"\, n.
   1. A supply of anything wasted or exhausted; a reenforcement.
      [1913 Webster]

            The state is to have recruits to its strength, and
            remedies to its distempers.           --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Specifically, a man enlisted for service in the army; a
      newly enlisted soldier.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Recruit \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 recro[^i]/tre,
   p. p. recr[^u], to grow again) from an older recluter,
   properly, to patch, to mend (a garment); pref. re- + OF. clut
   piece, piece of cloth; cf. Icel. kl[=u]tr 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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Her cheeks glow the brighter, recruiting their
            color.                                --Glanvill.
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   2. Hence, to restore the wasted vigor of; to renew in
      strength or health; to reinvigorate.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

recruit
    n 1: a recently enlisted soldier [syn: recruit, military
         recruit]
    2: any new member or supporter (as in the armed forces) [syn:
       recruit, enlistee]
    v 1: register formally as a participant or member; "The party
         recruited many new members" [syn: enroll, inscribe,
         enter, enrol, recruit]
    2: seek to employ; "The lab director recruited an able crew of
       assistants"
    3: cause to assemble or enlist in the military; "raise an army";
       "recruit new soldiers" [syn: recruit, levy, raise]

The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

RECRUIT, n.  A person distinguishable from a civilian by his uniform
and from a soldier by his gait.

    Fresh from the farm or factory or street,
    His marching, in pursuit or in retreat,
        Were an impressive martial spectacle
    Except for two impediments -- his feet.
                                                      Thompson Johnson