[es.soin] n [ME essoine, fr. MF, fr. OF, fr. essoinier to offer an essoin, fr. es- ex- + soine legal excuse, of Gmc origin; akin to OS sunnea denial, OE soth truth--more at sooth] (14c) 1: an excuse for not appearing in an English law court at the appointed time
2. obs: excuse, delay