Also 6–9 -cation, 8 imbarkation, -cation. [a. F. embarcation, f. embarquer EMBARK v.1]
1. The action or process of embarking. lit. & fig.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), I. III. xviii. 26. I can find no commodity of imbarcation at Saint Malos.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), I. 23. Very sollicitous for the Embarcation of the Army.
1790. Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., I. 172. To hasten the embarkation of the troops.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., VI. 6. I shall delay the embarkation.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xii. 222. The point of embarcation was close by the … abode of Godwine.
attrib. 1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Sept., 7/1. The embarkation list … will include twenty-three officers.
† 2. concr. A body of troops embarked, gone or put on board ship. Obs.
1720. Lond. Gaz., No. 5877/1. The Transports … were taking on Board the third … Imbarkation.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. 1826, X. 252. Another and much greater embarkation followed.
† 3. A vessel, boat. Obs. [cf. F. embarcation, Sp. embarcacion.]
1690. Lond. Gaz., No. 2525/1. They have … taken divers … small Embarkations. Ibid. (1705), 4115/4. Sloops, and other Imbarcations.
1781. Rennell, in Phil. Trans., LXXI. 106. Embarkations … traverse the inundation.
1804. H. T. Colebrooke, Husb. of Bengal (1806), 10. The peasants repairing to the market … on embarkations.
1807. Southey, Espriella’s Lett. (1814), II. 179. A … rotten and crazy embarkation.
