[ad. late L. cassātiōn-em, n. of action f. cassāre; see CASS v. So in F.]
1. The action of making null or void; cancellation, abrogation.
Court of Cassation [Fr. Cour de cassation], in France, the appellation of the supreme court of appeal, as having the power in the last resort to alter, or cancel, or quash (casser) decisions of the other courts which are wrong in form or law.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., IX. xxiii. 70. Quhen of þir Electiownys Twa fell sic Cassatiownys.
1611. Cotgr., Cassation, a cassation, a quashing, cassing, breaking.
a. 1619. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 112. There was no cassation of the first [election].
1750. Beawes, Lex Mercat. (1752), 369. Under Penalty of Cassation and being mulct.
1850. Alison, Hist. Europe, II. vi. § 29. 28. A new Tribunal, entitled the Court of Cassation, was established at Paris to revise the sentences of inferior tribunals.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., I. ii. (1866), 81. By a general cassation of all their constitutions.
† 2. Dismissal of a soldier; cashiering. Obs.
1602. Segar, Hon. Mil. & Civ., xxv. 32. Cassation causary or reasonable … in consideration of sicknesse or disability [etc.]…. Cassation ignominious, was for some offence [etc.].
