1. The action of running forth or out; an excursion or sally; usually a hostile or marauding one.
1523. St. Papers Hen VIII., IV. 35. The rodes and excourses divised, to be made or not made, as ye shal se the cace to requyre.
1557. Paynel, Barclay’s Jugurth, 20 b. He assailed and inuaded more inwardly … by excourses of his horsemen.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., III. ii. 43. During the whole time of the witches excourse, the diuell occupieth the roome and place of the witch.
2. a. The means of sallying forth. b. The extent of ground covered, range (of a person’s activity, also of a chain of mountains).
c. 1534. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist., I. 6. The nation of Britons … havinge thether excourse owt of Fraunce did occupie the ilonde. Ibid. The mountayne Grampius … from the entree of the ryver Dee … hathe excourse to the Irish seas.
1555. Bonner, Necess. Doctr., C. The Excourse of hym is even unto the helles.
3. = EXCURSUS 2.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 144. He interlaceth a fond excourse of the authoritie of the later writers.
