† esˈbatement Obs.
[a. OF. esbatement, mod.Fr. ébattement, f. (s')ébattre to divert (oneself) = Pr. esbatre, It. sbattere:—late L. type *exbattĕre, f. ex out + battĕre to beat. Cf. abate.]
Amusement, diversion; an amusement. Cf. abatement 2 b.
| 1475 Caxton Jason 119 The daye passed and the feste in daunces, carolles and esbatements. 1483 ― G. de la Tour xxiii, These wordes are but sport and esbatement of lordes. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. x, If he haue pleasure in wrastling..where shall he se any more plesant esbatementes than that. |