Obs. [ad. L. excussiōn-em, n. of action f. excut-ĕre: see EXCUSS.]
1. The action of shaking, casting, or putting out or off, material or immaterial things.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 125. The new bunches swelling vp … do thrust off the old hornes, being holpe … by the willing excussion of the beast that beareth them.
1620. Bp. Hall, Hon. Mar. Clergie, I. § 3. The iust excussion of that seruile yoke.
1649. Bulwer, Pathomyot., II. vi. 183. Extrusion or excussion of the Muscle that moves the Jaw.
1650. Charleton, trans. Van Helmont’s Paradoxes, 75. As fire is, by excussion, kindled from flint.
1698. Consid. conc. Succession & Alleg., 33. The late King’s Excussion of his Regal Authority.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
2. ‘Diligent inquisition or examination’ (Bailey).
Richardson cites an example of this sense from Watts’ trans. Bacon’s Adv. Learn. (1640), vi. ii. 274; but the word is a misprint for excursion (the original having excursio).
3. Mod. Civ. Law. [Cf. OF. escussion in same sense.] Seizure of goods for debt, etc.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 453. Debarring … the exceptions of Prescription, Excussion, [etc.].
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 272. If upon such an Excussion there are not Goods found sufficient to satisfy the Judgment, then his Body may be attach’d.
1755. in Johnson; whence in Ash, etc.
