1. A multi-bit trie search engine comprising: a series of hardware pipeline units each configured to process a stride during prefix search operations on multi-bit trie routing tables, wherein at least one pipeline unit within the series is configured to determine (a) whether any further strides remain within a prefix for a given prefix search operation past a stride processed by the at least one pipeline unit, and (b) whether any additional prefix search operations are being processed in subsequent pipeline units within the series, wherein the at least one pipeline unit includes a control mechanism configured to enable search results from the at least one pipeline unit for a given prefix search operation either to continue to a next pipeline unit or to be retired based upon whether further strides remain within the prefix for the prefix search operation and whether additional prefix search operations are being processed in subsequent pipeline units.