n. (US installment) 1 a sum of money due as one of several usu. equal payments for something, spread over an agreed period of time. 2 any of several parts, esp. of a television or radio serial or a magazine story, published or shown in sequence at intervals. instalment plan payment by instalments, esp. hire purchase.
[ alt. f. obs. estallment f. AF estalement f. estaler fix: prob. assoc. with INSTALLATION ]