essoin

noun

es·​soin i-ˈsȯin 

1

: an excuse for not appearing in an English law court at the appointed time

2

obsolete : excuse, delay

Word History

Etymology

Middle English essoine, from Anglo-French, from essonier to offer an essoin, from es- ex- + *soigne legal excuse, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Saxon sunnea denial, Old English sōth truth — more at sooth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1