[a. Fr. abatture, abature, throwing down.] The traces left by a stag in the underwood through which he has passed.
1575. G. Turbervile, Booke of Venerie, 68. Of the iudgement of the Abatures and beating downe of the lowe twigges and the foyles.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., I. 93. What Necromanticke spells are Rut, Vault, Slot, Pores, and Entryes, Abatures, and Foyles, Frayenstockes, Frith and Fell, Layres, Dewclawes, and Dowlcets, drawing the Covert, Blemishes, Jewelling, Avaunt-laye, Allaye, Relaye, Foreloyning, Hunt-cownter, Hunt-change, Quarry, Reward, and a thousand more such Utopian fragments of confused Gibberish.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Age The huntsmen have several other marks whereby to know an old hart without seeing him: as the clot, entries, abatures, etc.
