The Collaborative International Dictionary
Essoin day
Essoin \Es*soin"\or Essoign \Es*soign\, n. [OF. essoine, essoigne, F. exoine, L. essonia, exonia; pref. ex- (L. ex from) + sunnis, sunnia, sonia, hindrance, excuse. Cf. Icel. syn refusal, synja to deny, refuse, Goth. sunja truth, sunj[=o]n to justify, OS. sunnea impediment, OHG. sunna.]
(Eng. Law) An excuse for not appearing in court at the return of process; the allegation of an excuse to the court.
-
Excuse; exemption. [Obs.]
From every work he challenged essoin.
--Spenser.Essoin day (Eng. Law), the first general return day of the term, on which the court sits to receive essoins.
--Blackstone.