Obs. [a. OF. esbatement, mod.Fr. ébattement, f. (s’)ébattre to divert (oneself) = Pr. esbatre, It. sbattere:—late L. type *exbattĕre, f. ex out + battĕre to beat. Cf. ABATE.] Amusement, diversion; an amusement. Cf. ABATEMENT 2 b.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 119. The daye passed and the feste in daunces, carolles and esbatements. Ibid. (1483), G. de la Tour, xxiii. These wordes are but sport and esbatement of lordes.
1531. Elyot, Gov., I. x. 33. If he haue pleasure in wrastling … where shall he se any more plesant esbatementes than that.
