† ocˈcision Obs.
[a. F. occision (11th c. in Littré), ad. L. occīsiōn-em, n. of action from occīd-ĕre to kill, slay.]
Killing, slaying (esp. of a number of people, as in battle); slaughter.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xiv. 220 The richt nobil Erll..Maid sic a slauchtir in the toune, And swa felloune occisioune. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. cl. (1869) 135 Homicidye it is cleped..and occisioun. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) v. xiv. 344 a/2 The horryble occysyon whiche thou haste commysed. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) II. 354 The place quhare maist occision and slauchter wes of Danis. 1594 ? Greene Selimus Wks. 1881–3 XIV. 287 Why stand I still, and rather do not flie The great occision which the victors make. a 1677 Hale Hist. Placit. Cor. xlii. (1736) I. 496 This kind of occision of a man according to the laws of the kingdom and in execution thereof ought not to be numbred in the rank of crimes. |