/i soyn"/ , n.
(in England) an excuse for nonappearance in a court of law at the prescribed time.
[ 1300-50; ME essoine essoigne, essoine, n. deriv. of essoinier to put forward such an excuse, v. deriv. (with es- EX-) of sogne, ult.
sunnja legal excuse, care (cf. OS sunnea, ON syn denial, Goth sunja truth) ]