▪ I. † ˈarson1 Obs.
Forms: 4–5 arsoun, 5 -oune, -own, -un, 6–7 arzon, 5–7 arson.
[a. OF. ar{cced}un, arzon (also archon), cogn. with Sp. arzon, It. arcione:—late L. arciōn-em, f. arcus bow. Cf. archon n.1]
1. A saddle-bow; a name given to two curved pieces of wood or metal, one of which was fixed to the front of the saddle, and another behind, to give the rider greater security in his seat.
| c 1325 Cæur de L. 5539 Both hys arsouns weren off yren. a 1400 Octouian 1040 Two bole-axys..In hys former arsun were y-honge. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xiv. 293 His body he toclaf..Evene to his sadelis arsown. 1557 K. Arthur (Copland) vi. vii, The arson of his sadel brake, and so he flewe ouer his hors tayle. 1598 Stow Surv. (ed. Strype 1754) II. v. xiv. 318/1 All his Arzons, i.e. Saddle bows that he makes. 1623 Mabbe Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. 68 A Petronell hanging at the arson of his saddle. |
2. Occas. used for: A saddle.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 4251 And leop himseolf in the arsoun. c 1460 Lybeaus Disc. 1613 Unnethe that he myghte sytte Upryght yn hys arsoun. |
▪ II. arson2
(ˈɑːsən)
[a. OF. arson, -oun, -un:—late L. arsiōn-em, n. of action f. ars- ppl. stem of ardēre to burn. First used as Eng. by Hale.]
The act of wilfully and maliciously setting fire to another man's house, ship, forest, or similar property; or to one's own, when insured, with intent to defraud the insurers.
| [1275 1 Stat. Westm. (3 Edw. I) xv, Ceux qui sont pris pur arsoun feloniousement fait. Transl. 1618: Such as be taken for house burning feloniously done. 1583 W. Stanford Plees del Coron 36 a, Arsons de measons felonisement faits est felony per le comen ley. 1640 Coke 3rd Pt. Inst. xv, Indictment of burning. a 1680 Hale quotes the prec. as ‘Indictment of arson.’] |
| a 1680 Hale Pleas of Crown 566 The felony of arson or wilful burning of houses. 1768 Blackstone Comm. IV. 220 Arson..is the malicious and wilful burning of the house or outhouses of another man. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. ii. vi, Stampings, smitings, breakages of furniture, if not arson itself. 1856 Motley Dutch Rep. (1861) I. 24 Murder, larceny, arson, rape..were commuted for a definite price. |