▪ I. † rescous, n. Obs.
Forms: α. 4–7 rescous(e, rescouss(e, 4–5 rescus(e, 5 reskuse, 6–7 rescusse. β. 5 rescues, reschewes, -scowes, 6 reskues.
[a. OF. rescous(s)e, rescusse, etc. (It. riscossa; Rom. type *re-ex-cussa), vbl. n. to OF. rescourre to rescue. The β-forms may in some cases be taken as plurals of rescue.]
1. Rescue, assistance, aid.
| α c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5406 Wyder..Wyþ twenty þousand mad hem rescus. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 73 In rescouss of the toun aboute, Which with the Gregois was belein. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. ix. (1555), Of which slaughter the grekes wer confuse, Tyll Pelleus came to their rescuse. c 1477 Caxton Jason 39 b, The whiche..assembled them for to come to the rescousse of theyr lord. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV 23 Fortifiyng the same for fere of rescous that might issue from Caleis. 1602 Carew Cornwall 125 b, For want of timely rescouse, the breath poasted out of his body. |
| β ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 433 Byde hy[m] make reschewes for menske of hyme selvene. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode iv. xxv. (1869) 189 Driveth hire fro me, j prey yow, and beth me a rescues for hire. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. xiv. 55 And whan Gryflet sawe rescowes, he smote a knyght on the tempils. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 318 The Captaine..having no comfort to have any quick reskues, yeelded. |
2. Law. = rescue n. 2.
| 1451 Paston Lett. I. 195, I told Gonnor that I shuld certifie a rescuse, and prayd the baly of the hundred that he wold record the same. 1485 Act 1 Hen. VII, c. 7 If any Rescous or Disobeysance be made to any Person having Authority to do Execution..by any such Warrant. 1530–1 Act 22 Hen. VIII, c. 12 If any person..make rescous agayne any Mayre..or other person. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. vii. (1588) 231 Offence and felonie..in him that helpeth the prisoner to get away, which is commonly termed Rescusse. 1618 Dalton Countr. Just. lxxvii. (1630) 196 Every disseisin rescous and trespasse implieth a force. 1632 Star Chamb. Cases (Camden) 137 The Lord Chiefe Justice found very much fault with Casen about Jenner's oppression, and his multiplicitie of suites upon the rescusse. 1690 Act 2 Will. & Mary i. c. 5 §4 Upon any Pound-breach or Rescous of Goods or Chattels distrained for Rent. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 146 Being thus in the custody of the law, the taking them back by force is looked upon as an atrocious injury, and denominated a rescous. |
▪ II. † rescous, v. Obs.
Also 4 rescouse, 5 reschewse, 6–7 rescusse.
[a. OF. rescouser, -cuser, f. rescouse: see prec.]
trans. (and refl.) To rescue. Hence rescousing vbl. n.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13039 Þe Romayns Petron wilde rescouse, But Bretons a-geyn þem faste gan brouse. c 1400 Rowland & O. 1536 Sir Otuell hase thre kynges slone & reschewsede hym with honour. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. vii. (1588) 232 If a stranger doe..rescusse such an one as is under arrest for Felonie, then is it Felonie..in the straunger. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxiii §32 A readye rescussing of a mans selfe from scornes. a 1625 Sir H. Finch Law (1636) 355 Here for contempts a Capias lyeth against Peers of the Realme, as for rescousing of one arrested by the course of the Law. |