noun
- Plural of essoin; excuses or pretexts for non-appearance in court or failure to perform a legal duty.
Usage: archaic; legal history; chiefly British
Examples
- The defendant filed multiple essoins to delay the trial.
- Medieval courts were often clogged with essoins from parties seeking postponement.
- His essoins were deemed insufficient by the judge.
- The lawyer presented several essoins on behalf of the absent witness.