abature
(ˈæbətjʊə(r))
[a. Fr. abatture, abature, throwing down.]
The traces left by a stag in the underwood through which he has passed.
| 1575 G. Turberville Booke of Venerie 68 Of the iudgement of the Abatures and beating downe of the lowe twigges and the foyles. 1630 Taylor (Water P.) Wks. i. 93 What Necromanticke spells are Rut, Vault, Slot, Pores, and Entryes, Abatures, and Foyles, Frayenstockes, Frith and Fell, Layres, Dewclawes, and Dowlcets, drawing the Covert, Blemishes, Jewelling, Avaunt-laye, Allaye, Relaye, Foreloyning, Huntcownter, Hunt-change, Quarry, Reward, and a thousand more such Utopian fragments of confused Gibberish. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Age, The huntsmen have several other marks whereby to know an old hart without seeing him: as the clot, entries, abatures, etc. |