from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.]
1. (Eng. Law) An excuse for not appearing in court at the
return of process; the allegation of an excuse to the
court.
[1913 Webster]
2. Excuse; exemption. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
From every work he challenged essoin. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
{Essoin day} (Eng. Law), the first general return day of the
term, on which the court sits to receive essoins.
--Blackstone.
[1913 Webster]