▪ I. † exˈcourse, n. Obs.
[variant of excurse, after the analogy of course.]
1. The action of running forth or out; an excursion or sally; usually a hostile or marauding one.
| 1523 St. Papers Hen. VIII, IV. 35 The rodes and ex⁓courses divised, to be made or not made, as ye shal se the cace to requyre. 1557 Paynel Barclay's Jugurth 20 b, He assailed and inuaded more inwardly..by excourses of his horsemen. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. iii. ii. 43 During the whole time of the witches excourse, the diuell occupieth the roome and place of the witch. |
2. a. The means of sallying forth. b. The extent of ground covered, range (of a person's activity, also of a chain of mountains).
| c 1534 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. I. 6 The nation of Britons..havinge thether excourse owt of Fraunce did occupie the ilonde. Ibid., The mountayne Grampius..from the entree of the ryver Dee..hathe excourse to the Irish seas. 1555 Bonner Necess. Doctr. C, The Excourse of hym is even unto the helles. |
3. = excursus 2.
| 1579 Fulke Heskins' Parl. 144 He interlaceth a fond excourse of the authoritie of the later writers. |
▪ II. † exˈcourse, v. Obs.
? Also excorse.
[var. of scourse.]
intr. To exchange, barter, ‘swop’. (It is doubtful whether quot. 1593 belongs here.)
| 1593 Nashe Christ's T. 52 b, So shall you be ready to curse God, and desire to be swallowed quicke, to excorse the agony you are in. 1623 Cockeram ii, To Change..Excourse, Trucke, Traffique..Barter. |